Barb Ives
Nov 2021
During the process of finding an assisted living residence for my 91 year old dad, I toured 8 facilities around the twin cities. They were all pretty interchangeable, until I walked into The Pillars of White Bear Lake. I was warmly greeted by Jean at the front desk, who is so cheerful and helpful; and then there is Bear, the sweetest golden retriever who calmly welcomes visitors as they come in with a wag of his tail. I was soon introduced to Vicki, who was so friendly and accommodating as she gave me a tour and answered all my questions. There are many things about The Pillars of WBL that stand out, it is extremely clean, but also beautiful, and it really feels like a home - not a facility. The food is amazing! The chef prepares a menu each day with several choices for each meal, it honestly feels like a high end restaurant, complete with white tablecloths and servers. There are lots of activities for the residents to choose from all day long, including music, art, games, movies, animal therapy, billiards, a pub, performers, exercise groups, etc... But what sets The Pillars of WBL apart from all other senior living buildings is THE STAFF! I don't know how they do it, especially during Covid and a worker shortage, but they attract, hire, and maintain the friendliest, most helpful staff I have encountered in years! They seem genuinely HAPPY to be there! And that's the bottom line...a happy staff makes for happy residents, and that is what I was looking for in placing my dad in the hands of a care facility. The next day I met with Kevin, the director, he went over all the leasing information, answered my many questions, and was so informative and patient as I was trying to carefully make the right decision for my dad. Finally, I met Jen, the director of nursing/health services. She is so warm and kind; I finally found someone who really cared about doing everything she could to make this transition less stressful for my dad and the whole family. After weeks of research, I found the perfect place. We moved him in ASAP. I visit every day, and as I walk in and spend the next couple of hours there, it reaffirms that we made the right decision. A happy dad makes for happy kids. Thank you to all the staff at The Pillars of WBL!
