StoryPoint White Bear Lake

If you are looking for memory care please look somewhere else. The level of care keeps dropping as the prices continue to climb. It is a beautiful facility that caters more to independent living and maybe assisted living. The memory care facility is an after thought. New Perspective pays a lower hourly rate than surrounding communities and it causes a high staff turnover. There are constantly new hires being trained in and it is difficult for residents to get the care they need. Medications are rarely if ever on time, residents often wait 20 minutes or more when they ring for help, no activities to actively engage residents, the restaurant has pretty good food however weekends and memory care meals are often tiny portions and often look like leftovers that are often served cold. During the tour they will dazzle you with a monthly calendar filled with activities and all of the amenities; however, residents in memory care don’t get to access any of the programs unless family members bring them. Even the special “Memory Care Calendar” is just a cut and paste list of activities that never actually happen because overworked caregivers are too busy. Don’t fall for the fancy facade and feigned sincerity of the management. Once you sign with them everything changes and they are difficult to reach, don’t answer calls or emails and blame everything that goes wrong on corporate policy. If you are looking for an apartment with activities this might be a good fit. However, if your loved one needs dependable care please look somewhere else.

We started out in independent living in 2022 and moved to memory care together in 2024 for my wife. I appreciate having the freedom to go to the wonderful events, meals, church services, and men’s lunches while knowing my wife is being taken care of in a safe environment. The activities Linda puts on for the residences; we know takes a lot of work, and she goes out of her way to communicate to me so I don’t miss out. Shawn and Dave are wonderful when taking the men out to lunch and managing my wheelchair. The leadership here listens to our feedback and genuinely cares about the residents! ~ Richard Schantz

One year ago, I was on a memory care facility search for a family member who has early-onset dementia. We settled on New Perspective and have been happy with that choice. While there are many aspects to consider, I want to call out the personal commitment of the leadership team and the caregivers to create a culture where residents and their families feel like home. They have been flexible with our needs and truly care about our family. The transition for my family member was not easy (our end, not theirs!), but they stuck with us and worked through the challenges to make it a success. Each resident has their own needs, and I see the caregivers flexing to make resident-centered care a priority. I can see in many of the staff I encounter genuine care for each resident and their family members. Having provided that care myself as the disease progressed, I can understand what it takes to make the care a successful experience. As I reflect on this past year, it definitely takes a village, and I could not have provided the care on my own any longer. I am grateful for all that they do to make this phase of life one where we can still create happy memories together.

My daughter visited a plethora of facilities before I came to visit them in person. This New Perspective at the White Bear Lake location definitely made it to the short list for a personal visit by me. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the food is delicious, and the staff are exemplary. The floor plans are generous and storage is bountiful. I moved from Ohio where I had lived all my life to Minnesota so this was a significant move for me. Everything about this facility definitely makes it a new and wonderful home for me. It is like living in an apartment at a country club.