Frequently Asked Questions

Vista Prairie Communities is a trusted nonprofit senior care organization dedicated to serving the older adult population as well as their loved ones. We have 25 years of service and are committed to learning, growth, and innovation for the wellbeing of our residents and staff. We own and manage 7 senior communities in 3 states (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa) and serve 750 seniors every day.

Beyond the community’s amenities,  Vista Prairie at Goldfinch Estates sets itself apart from the competition with our authenticity and Aspire lifestyle program . We aim to overdeliver and not overpromise. We don’t focus on our marketing materials or being “fancy”. We focus on the quality of the care delivered, we want to truly know our residents, their families and loved ones. We have a strong integrated leadership across our nonprofit organization that feels more like a large support team. Our staff have the tools, technology, and innovative products they need to do a good job, to make sure care plans are well executed, and to give them more time spent with residents. At Vista Prairie Communities, you’re family.

At Vista Prairie at Goldfinch Estates, we offer: Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Respite Care.

Deciding to move to a senior living community is a big, yet exciting, step in life. You can live a maintenance-free lifestyle with access to social opportunities and care when you need it. As you prepare for this next chapter, you may wonder how you will pay for it. The good news is that many senior care financial options exist to fit the needs of your situation.

At Vista Prairie at Goldfinch Estates, we’re here to help guide you. Our trusted financial partners at ElderLife Financial work with you and your family to determine which resources are available to you and the best options for moving forward. On our Financial Resources page you can learn about some of the financial solutions families leverage to pay for senior living.

Both types of senior care options focus on quality of life, making sure their residents are happy, healthy and safe. safe, healthy and happy. Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilities (Nursing Homes) both provide support with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This includes bathing, medication management, dressing and personal care. Other similarities include: Life Enrichment or Wellness Programs and Activities, Support Services (housing, laundry, and transportation), Safety Assurances, Dining Programs.

The differences in Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilities (Nursing Homes) are in the medical/care services provided, living environment, and costs

See a Comparison Chart

In a sentence, in an Independent Living community, you don’t receive any home health care services or access to emergency response pendants. There is also not 24/7 care staff available in case of an emergency. Of course, with any apartments that you would choose in our community, there are care and support service choices designed to fit what you need and want. Our Assisted Living offers a full menu of personalized services to support you with your daily life activities. We customize your care plan based off your needs and wants after our Licensed Nurse meets with you and/or your family as well as communication from your Physician. Our emergency call system ensures access to staff 24 hours a day. Meals, laundry services, housekeeping and other amenities are included in the rent at no additional cost, to all that live in our community, regardless of the level of their care.

Our costs vary depending on the style and size of apartment, support services, or care that the resident is receiving. We are completely transparent with our costs, and everything is provided in the initial tour and meeting at our community.

If we’ve learned anything during this pandemic, is that nothing is certain besides the fact that we’ll always put our residents first. We’ve been challenged significantly in this industry in more than one way, but we’ll keep adapting and thinking creatively to provide our residents with the best life that they are capable of living. At times and certainly in the beginning of the pandemic, we had to limit interactions within the community as we keep an eye on local COVID-19 cases or increase masking as well as keeping in communication with families on visitor guidelines. We follow the direction of the state health department as well as the CDC for guidelines within our community and continue to encourage and offer vaccination within our communities. Our residents have shared with us on more than one occasion that they are happy to be in a home with staff nearby as well as nearby neighbors within a warm, safe community rather than living in their own home alone, especially during the winter months where it can be quite isolating.

With senior care options and communities all around you, it can be overwhelming to begin the research process. We're here to help simplify these decisions with some easy steps. Stop over to our Where to Start page which helps guide you through the process with ease. Certainly, if you have a community in mind that you know you want to move to, call or email them and ask to talk to their Sales and Community Marketing Manager. These individuals are highly trained, caring, knowledgeable experts in senior living that just want to help you navigate this challenging time in your life and provide you with tools and resources. They know all the steps you will need to take as well.

Yes, we have a medication management program, which may be added to an individualized service plan and varies based on regulations. Residents participating in our medication program may choose their own pharmacy or use our preferred pharmacy provider in that region. If a resident prefers to use an alternate pharmacy, the resident and pharmacy must comply with certain requirements.