Cottagewood Senior Community Memory Care

    300 Bunting Lane, Mankato, MN, 56001
    4.0 · 4 reviews
    • Memory care
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    4.0

    Caring staff, but belongings missing

    I chose this small, friendly memory-care home for its proactive, caring staff, spotless facility, outstanding activities and family-style, healthy meals - overall excellent value and atmosphere. My loved one has gotten great care and a wonderful roommate, but dementia care can be inconsistent and several of their personal belongings disappeared; staff and even the executive director couldn't locate them. I appreciate the staff and programs, but I can't recommend it as a safe place for residents' belongings.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.00 · 4 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.5
    • Staff

      3.3
    • Meals

      4.5
    • Amenities

      4.0
    • Value

      5.0

    Pros

    • Safe environment
    • Small, friendly memory care setting
    • Proactive and high-quality staff
    • Outstanding care
    • Clean and well-maintained facility
    • Outstanding activities program
    • Family-style meals
    • Healthy, varied menu
    • Opportunities for resident involvement in meal preparation
    • Positive roommate experiences
    • Good overall value and recommendations
    • General sense that placement is going well

    Cons

    • Reports of missing resident belongings
    • Perceived lack of accountability for lost items
    • Executive director/staff reportedly unable to locate missing items
    • At least one reviewer does not recommend due to lost belongings
    • Dementia care can be challenging to meet in some cases

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the review summaries is predominantly positive, with multiple reviewers highlighting the facility as a safe, small, and friendly memory care option that delivers good value. Commonly noted strengths include proactive, high-quality staff, a clean and well-maintained environment, and an outstanding activities program. Several comments explicitly recommend the community and describe placement as an "excellent choice," indicating strong overall satisfaction among most reviewers.

    Care quality and staff: The staff are repeatedly described as proactive and of good quality; multiple reviews praise the care as "outstanding." The small size of the community is framed as an advantage, contributing to a friendly atmosphere and potentially more personalized attention. At the same time, one summary notes that "dementia care is a challenge," which reflects either the inherent difficulty of addressing progressive cognitive needs or that the facility may face occasional limits in meeting complex dementia-related behaviors. Overall, however, staff performance is seen positively by most reviewers.

    Facilities, activities, and daily life: The facility is characterized as clean and well maintained. Activities receive particular praise—several reviewers call them "outstanding"—suggesting an active programming schedule that engages residents. Social dynamics are also noted positively: at least one reviewer mentioned a great roommate experience, and the small, family-style environment seems to support socialization and comfort for residents.

    Dining and menus: Dining impressions are uniformly favorable. Family-style meals and opportunities for residents to participate in meal preparation are highlighted, along with a good, varied, and healthy menu. These comments suggest that mealtimes are a social and nutritional strength for the community and that the food service contributes substantively to residents' quality of life.

    Management and notable concerns: The most significant negative pattern centers on reports of missing personal belongings. One reviewer describes belongings that disappeared and reports that staff, including the executive director, were unable to locate the items; that reviewer explicitly stated they would not recommend the community as a result. This complaint stands in contrast to the otherwise positive tone of other reviews and raises a specific concern about inventory control, accountability, and communication surrounding residents' personal property. While most feedback praises staff quality, the missing-belongings incident suggests an isolated but serious lapse in procedures or follow-through that prospective families should probe further.

    Patterns and takeaway: In synthesis, the dominant themes are strong — safety, cleanliness, personalized small-community care, good staffing, excellent activities, and appealing dining. These strengths are reinforced repeatedly and form the core positive impression of Cottagewood Senior Community Memory Care. The main area of caution is the reported loss of belongings and a perceived lack of satisfactory resolution by management in that instance. Prospective families should weigh the facility's many positives against that isolated but serious concern, and if considering placement, ask specific questions about resident property policies, documentation, and how missing-item incidents are handled to ensure accountability and resident protection.

    Location

    Map showing location of Cottagewood Senior Community Memory Care

    About Cottagewood Senior Community Memory Care

    Cottagewood Senior Community Memory Care offers private and semi-private memory care suites at locations in Mankato and Rochester, and you can find both assisted living and specialized memory care for seniors with dementia or Alzheimer's. The Haven at Cottagewood gives extra support for people facing memory and behavioral issues, and staff members make an effort to build trust and help residents feel at home. Cottage-style buildings help create a calm, home-like feeling with lounges and common areas that make it easier for residents to meet and talk with each other. Each resident gets a care plan designed by professional staff, and there's help with all the daily things like bathing, dressing, continence, and moving around, plus healthcare needs such as medication management, diabetic care, and non-ambulatory care. Amenities like housekeeping, laundry, trash removal, scheduled rides, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy are standard here, and residents get three housemade meals each day plus snacks. The community focuses on safety, comfort, and keeping things simple, and there's a range of activities and programs to help residents stay familiar with their routines and surroundings. Special design elements help prevent confusion and wandering, and outdoor spaces give people a chance to get fresh air. You'll find reviews rated as "Excellent," and staff make an ongoing effort to support families and keep everyone comfortable. Photos, reviews, and unit prices are available, and rooms include private amenities for easy, low-maintenance living. The community always aims to give residents support and dignity, especially those dealing with memory challenges.

    About Great Lakes Management

    Cottagewood Senior Community Memory Care is managed by Great Lakes Management.

    Founded in 1988 by Michael Pagh, Great Lakes Management is a Minnesota-based senior living operator managing over $1 billion in real estate across the United States. Headquartered in Plymouth, MN, the company operates approximately 40+ senior living communities offering assisted living, memory care, and independent living services.

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