The Commons On Marice

After his grandma visited all the area assisted living facilities, she declared this was the best… and so it became home to my husbands grandmother.
We visit at least weekly, if at all possible. The staff always seems very friendly and willing to help out when needed. When she first moved in she was still able to see, since them she has lost her vision due to macular degeneration. The staff really helps her when she needs it, sometimes she gets a little feisty because she wants to remain as independent as possible and they want to do everything they can to help her.
The only complaint she has had of the place, is that the staff treats them as «children» and fuss a little to much, but I don’t see that as a bad thing.
As with any other assisted living facility, the digs aren’t cheap, but I truly feel you get what you pay for. Our 8 year old if given the opportunity would come here every day to visit great-​grandma and eat at the «5 star» dining facility… his rating of course! I would highly recommend the Commons to anyone.

Assisted living. What does that mean, exactly? It’s up for interpretation. For some it’s more than assistance, more than a helping hand — in fact, for some, assisted living can be a deeply personal relationship bordering on kinship. For others, this «assistance» might be a friendly smile every morning, a reminder to take medications, and in the most worldly sense a community of caregivers and care receivers who recognize that the eldest among us are in fact our elders, scorned in modern society for their inability to be productive, while in truth these souls contributed blood, sweat and endless tears to the generation that followed. The Commons On Marice recognize this symbiosis, and celebrate each and every unique individual.
This review is for my elder, a man who desperately wished for a place which could balance his failing physical capacity with an endless desire for autonomy. After several visits to various housing options, it was clear that the Commons offered what we sought: a true community, with communal activities, daily shuttles to local shops and entertainment options, and terrific in-​house cuisine. This plethora costs a pretty penny, mind you, so be prepared. My elder served the state of Minnesota loyally for the better part of his life, and the state recognized his service, so he could afford it. Before boarding our elder, we looked at payment plans from several competing organizations and we were confident that, for the price, the Commons was fair. Not great, but definitely competitive.
The Commons rests on grounds featuring lovely horticulture and natural architecture. The grounds are carefully cultivated and the estate offers plenty of room for an afternoon walk with a visitor (please make the effort, kin). The front lobby is staffed by especially receptive and friendly people who know my elder, and have cared enough to contact me when asked. My limited touring of the main facility detailed a large atrium where Sunday services occur, along with a great toddler/​kids area, a little pub (used to be an ice cream parlor), billiards, a great gym/​exercise room and small library. Rooms are substantial, considering: sitting/​bed area, kitchenette, bathroom. Good enough for my elder, who has yet to actually turn on the burner of his stove.
My impression is that McGruff the Crime Dog doesn’t have any need to sniff the premises; this is a safe place, where residents trust in each other and in essence have a little utopia of everyday existence. It’s in Eagan, after all, a small town suburbia, sort of battling the oncoming reality of urbania while the rural element slowly chokes away.
Highly recommended, for the elders and all of us wishing for a little «assistance».