White Pine Senior Living of White Bear Lake sits behind the Burger King just off 35E and Highway 96 and runs as a comfortably small community with 24 units and space for about 44 residents, so it's never too crowded or overwhelming, which some people find helpful as they transition from living alone but want to avoid a big, busy nursing home. The place offers both assisted living and memory care in a series of cottages, where residents can get help with things like bathing, dressing, managing medicines, meal preparation, eating, and even insulin management, as well as extra help with bathrooms for folks who need two caregivers. There's always 24-hour staff on-site, including resident assistants and a house manager, and the wellness director is around during business hours or on call for questions or medical needs, so residents can get extra support whenever they need it.
The whole community is set up to feel a bit like a home, not a hospital, with comfortable furniture, plenty of windows, porches, patios for some fresh air, and a smell that people say is "Christmas-like" when you come in, which can make visitors and residents feel settled and calmer, especially those with memory issues. Private rooms are available, and there are spaces for couples too-husbands and wives or partners who want to be together-but shared rooms can also work if someone wants a roommate. Sound-proof apartments give extra quiet, and there's free cable TV in the rooms.
White Pine offers a balanced focus on helping residents stay independent while getting the care they need, often with safety checks every two hours or more if a resident needs them, plus "I'm OK Daily Checks," and response systems throughout the community. The memory care unit is fully secured for people who wander, and the staff includes caregivers trained to work with folks who have Alzheimer's or dementia. There are specialized programs for men with memory care needs too.
Meals are prepared and served to everyone, and other included services cover laundry, housekeeping, plus both complimentary and pay-as-you-go transportation-so residents can keep their routines and go out to appointments or shopping. Activities fill the calendar, ranging from social times and educational sessions to entertainment with the engagement team helping everyone join in, and there are devotionals for people who want spiritual support both on-site and off, plus a library for reading, and beauty and barber services available at White Pine itself.
For seniors who need end-of-life care, hospice support is available within the memory care part of the community, so someone can stay in familiar surroundings as their needs change. There's also respite care if a family needs a short-term stay. White Pine doesn't allow pets, and mostly English is spoken here. All fees are all-inclusive, which means that care, meals, and daily activities come with the monthly rate-residents and families don't face unexpected bills for things included in that bundle. The facility carries the Minnesota state license 30557 and continues under the name White Pine Senior Living-White Bear Lake, sometimes called White Pines Senior Living. Tours are encouraged so families can see everything-the rooms, common areas, staff, and the overall environment-before making any decisions.
