Prior Lake Community

Frequently Asked Questions on Prior Lake

  1. When did Prior Lake open?
  2. How many stories are there?
  3. How many areas are there for sitting and visiting outside the apartment?
  4. How many apartments are in the building?
  5. How does the meal program work?
  6. What type of heat is in the apartments?
  7. What appliances are provided?
  8. What color are the appliances?
  9. What color is the carpet?
  10. What color are the cupboards and the woodwork?
  11. What amenities are available?
  12. Are window treatments provided?
  13. Are there showers or tubs in the bathrooms?
  14. Is there a common tub area?
  15. Where are the emergency pull cords installed?
  16. Are there handrails in the hallways?
  17. Will there be any area where residents can be outdoors?
  18. The apartments are smoke free?
  19. Where are the sprinkler systems located?
  20. Are pets accepted?
  21. How high are the ceilings?
  22. If I am a resident at Keystone and require more care, will I have priority over someone not living in the building?
  23. How are the assisted living care levels determined?
  24. Are there any enclosed garages?
  25. What is your staffing ratio?
  26. How do you train staff about caring for residents who have Alzheimer's disease of other dementias?
  27. How do you decide specific programming for the memory care units?
  28. Can you accommodate for food preferences and food allergies?
  29. How do you re-evaluate a resident with Alzheimer's disease medications?
  30. Are there grab bars in the bathroom?

1. When did Prior Lake open?
October 1, 2003
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2. How many stories are there?
Three — the memory care is all on first floor, the assisted living area is on first, second and third floor.
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3. How many areas are there for sitting and visiting outside the apartment?
There are many visiting areas within the building. They include billiards room, chapel, craft room, activity kitchen, TV rooms, computer room, big screen TV, elegant and comfortable dining rooms and Internet café.
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4. How many apartments are in the building?
There are 107 individual apartments in the building. We have 60 independent living, 27-assisted living and 20 rooms available in the memory care area. However, the rooms are all interchangeable…meaning if you originally move in, in independent living and need assisted living down the road — you can stay in your own apartment, and we will bring the assisted living services to you.
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5. How does the meal program work?
Meals are included in the price of the assisted living and memory care units. The independent living units are required to purchase a meal plan. There are three meal plans available. There are 16 meals that are included in the rent. These meals can be used for breakfast, dinner or supper any day of the month.
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6. What type of heat is in the apartments?
In the independent living and assisted living areas we offer individually controlled hot water baseboard heat. In the memory care we have whisper packs, which are forced air including both heat and air-conditioning controlled separately with individual thermostats in each unit.
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7. What appliances are provided?
The independent and assisted living apartments are furnished with refrigerators, dishwashers, stoves, microwaves, and garbage disposals. The refrigerators are 19.8 cubic feet aide by side. The dishwashers are GE brand 4 cycles with 2 wash levels. The disposal is a 1/3 horsepower, large capacity continuous feed GE disposer. The wall unit air-conditioners are 6,000 BTU's. The one-bedroom units have one air-conditioner and the two bedroom units have two, each with a dehumidification feature. A washer/dryer is located in the unit. There is a monthly rental fee of $20 for them.
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8. What color are the appliances?
White General Electric appliances with self-cleaning ovens and browning units.
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9. What color is the carpet?
Carpeting, flooring, and tile is neutral (cream/beige) to make your apartment light and cheerful.
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10. What color are the cupboards and the woodwork?
All Cupboards are a light oak.
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11. What amenities are available? (Some may be provided for a fee.)
  • 24 hour compassionate care
  • Full activity program
  • 24 hour controlled access
  • Security systems and camera surveillance
  • Laundry facilities on each floor
  • Housekeeping (additional fee for independent living)
  • Internet café area
  • Coffee is available all day to the residents in the dining room
  • Comfortable common areas
  • Arts and crafts room with kitchen
  • Cultural, recreational and social events
  • Assistance with activities of daily living, including medical case management, medication administration, bathing assistance and much more
  • Private mail boxes
  • Storage lockers
  • Beauty/barber shop
  • Exercise and fitness programs
  • Wellness education
  • Respite Care units in Assisted Living and Memory Care areas
  • Walking gardens for outdoor enjoyment are provided
Apartment Amenities:
  • Large, spacious apartments — open, bright layouts
  • Beautiful light oak cabinetry in kitchens
  • Emergency response system
  • Emergency grab bars conveniently located in the bathroom areas
  • Air conditioning, satellite TV and utilities included
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12. Are window treatments provided?
Yes mini-blinds are on all the windows.
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13. Are there showers or tubs in the bathrooms?
In the one-bathroom units, there are step in showers. In the two bathroom units, there is a shower in one bath and a shower/tub combination in the other.
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14. Is there a common tub area?
There is a whirlpool in the facility for residents.
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15. Where are the emergency pull cords installed?
Pull cords are installed in each bathroom and bedroom. Pendants are also available if needed.
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16. Are there handrails in the hallways?
Yes, located on all 3 floors.
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17. Will there be any area where residents can be outdoors?
Yes, residents in the memory care area have their own secured strolling garden. For all other residents there are walking paths around the building as well as porches and patio areas.
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18. The apartments are smoke free?
We are proud to offer a completely smoke free building, but smoking is permitted outside the building.
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19. Where are the sprinkler systems located?
Our sprinkler system is state of the art and it is installed in each apartment as well as the common areas.
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20. Are pets accepted?
Some pets may be allowed. The Housing Director will assess each situation to determine if a resident is able to care for their pet. The Keystone Pet Policy explains in detail the criteria regarding pets. A pet deposit is required.
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21. How high are the ceilings?
In the apartments, the ceilings are approximately 8'.
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22. If I am a resident at Keystone and require more care, will I have priority over someone not living in the building?
Yes, each person who lives in the building automatically has top-priority admission to another area when available.
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23. How are the assisted living care levels determined?
You/your family will have a consultation with our registered nurse who will evaluate the care that you/your loved one needs. Our care levels are grouped into three categories.
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24. Are there any enclosed garages?
Yes, there are 63 underground garage stalls. An underground car wash is located in the garage for your convenience.
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25. What is your staffing ratio?
The staffing hours for budgeting and hiring purposes were based upon 50% of our residents being independent; 35% needing level 2 services; and 15% needing level 3 or memory care services. As long as these percentages change, staffing hours will change. Keystone Communities is committed to excellence and to providing the services described in residents’ service agreements.
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26. How do you train staff about caring for residents who have Alzheimer’s disease of other dementias?
Keystone’s direct care giving staff and their supervisors receive training that includes the topics listed below as part of their facility orientation program (This orientation is conducted by the RN Administrator and her designee):
  • An explanation of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders
  • Methods for giving assistance with activities of daily living
  • Strategies for problem solving challenging behaviors
  • Methods to enhance communication skills
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27. How do you decide specific programming for the memory care units?
The activities coordinator uses community resources to put together the monthly calendar of activities. There are always new ideas for us to use. Keystone Communities also belongs to a senior care provider organization that provides ongoing education opportunities for staff. Often residents and families are the best information source from which to develop programming. At admission and after, staff tracks the resident's previous areas of interest and use this information to keep the residents interested and active.
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28. Can you accommodate for food preferences and food allergies?
Keystone Communities serves a set in advance menu-one meal selection. However, we definitely can cater to certain food preferences and certainly for food allergies. If extensive menu changes are required, we can make these changes in cooperation with the resident and family.
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29. How do you re-evaluate a resident with Alzheimer’s disease medications?
Any re-evaluation of an established medication regime would be done by the RN in consultation with the resident and resident’s family and with the resident’s physician.
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30. Are there grab bars in the bathroom?
Yes, there are grab bars in the shower areas, the bathtubs and the toilet areas.
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