Besser Senior Living Community
Assisted Living & Memory Care · Alpena, MI
Besser Senior Living Community
Assisted Living & Memory Care · Alpena, MI
Overview of Besser Senior Living Community
Alpena’s Besser Senior Living Community is a 52-bed blend of assisted living and memory care which operates across 48 rooms, 20 of which are designated for dementia care and 28 for independent or early-decline residents. The building sits downtown with a Walk Score of 75; it’s ranked 53rd in Michigan for walkability.
Operating under 24-hour staffing with respite options and religious services, the community emphasizes activities and outings while permitting visitors to dine free and overnight guests at no charge. Residents furnish their own apartments. Home-cooked meals and structured engagement characterize daily operations.
The compliance record is notably strong.
A February 2020 original licensing study found the facility in substantial compliance with zero deficiencies at opening.
Three years later, the August 2023 renewal inspection identified five deficiencies; all administrative or procedural in nature. TB screening documentation was incomplete; the facility had not notified the state of an administrator change within required timeframes; employee health records lacked annual screening results; and no designated supervisor was on-site for third shift. These reflect gaps in documentation systems and staffing assignment rather than direct care failures.
No complaints have been filed, no enforcement actions taken, and no fines imposed. The facility’s 38 percent below-average deficiency rate compares favorably to Michigan’s nursing home performance baseline.
Census as of August 2023 reached 30 residents in 52 available beds.
Besser Senior Living suits residents transitioning to assisted living who value downtown walkability, community outings, and independent apartment living, or those with cognitive decline seeking memory-specific programming in a smaller, personable setting.
52-bed community Rank #260 / 428Bed count — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 260th out of 428 homes we track in Michigan for bed count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other Michigan facilities. Larger communities may offer more amenities, programs, and on-site services for residents and families.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Michigan that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
A moderately sized community that may balance personal attention with shared amenities and social activities.
Walk Score: 75 / 100 Rank #53 / 674Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 53rd out of 674 homes we track in Michigan for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across Michigan facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in Michigan that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk.
About this community
Facility TypeHomes For The Aged
StatusRegular
IssuanceAugust 1, 2026
ExpirationJuly 31, 2027
CountyAlpena
License NumberAH040394376
Owner NameBesser Senior Living Community Inc
Respite Care
Licensed Nurses/CNAs
24-Hour Staffing
Visitor PolicyGuests are welcome to dine with residents for a small fee.
Overnight GuestsOut-of-town guests can stay overnight at no additional charge.
Dining
Housekeeping
Activitiesexercise classes, games, outings to local attractions
Wellness Program24-hour care, assistance, supervision
Specific ProgramsResident Life, Health & Wellness
Religious Services
Inspection History
In Michigan, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) conducts unannounced inspections and investigations to ensure long-term care facilities comply with state health codes.
Since 2020 · 6 years of data
These figures come from state-published and/or federal inspection records. The period covered can vary depending on document availability.
5 deficiencies
2 inspections
Inspection Scorecard
This scorecard compares key inspection, deficiency, and complaint metrics at this facility against the Michigan state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.
Since 2020 vs. Michigan state average
Overall vs. MI average
1 Worse
Metrics worse than Michigan average:
• Deficiencies per inspection (56% above) 1 Better Metrics better than Michigan average:
• Total deficiencies (38% below)
• Deficiencies per inspection (56% above) 1 Better Metrics better than Michigan average:
• Total deficiencies (38% below)
Deficiencies
| This Facility | MI Average | vs. MI Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total deficiencies
Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types.
| 5 | 8 | This facility has 38% fewer total deficiencies than a typical Michigan assisted living residence (5 vs. MI avg 8).↓ 38% better |
|
Deficiencies per inspection
Average deficiencies per inspection.
| 2.5 | 1.6 | This facility has 56% more deficiencies per inspection than a typical Michigan assisted living residence (2.5 vs. MI avg 1.6).↑ 56% worse |
Inspections
| This Facility | MI Average | vs. MI Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total inspections
Combined count of all inspections conducted at this facility.
| 2 | 5 | This facility has had 60% fewer total inspections than the Michigan average (2 vs. MI avg 5). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 60% fewer |
What does this home offer?
Pets Allowed
Living Spaces & Floor Plans for Besser Senior Living Community
Places of interest near Besser Senior Living Community
0.0 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Alpena's city center to Besser Senior Living Community's address, calculated via Google Maps.
Calculate Travel Distance to Besser Senior Living Community
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Compare Assisted Living around the area
Info below is compiled from the MI Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.
Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.
Care Types in This Table
AL (Assisted Living):
Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing.
NH (Nursing Home):
24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs.
SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility):
Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness.
MC (Memory Care):
Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia.
RC (Respite Care):
Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break.
IL (Independent Living):
Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care.
HOS (Hospice Care):
Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
PC (Palliative Care):
Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
|
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
|
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
|
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
|
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
|
Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
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Number of years the company has been in operation.
|
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
|
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
|
Total count of deficiencies (cited regulatory issues) recorded in the selected reporting period. Read alongside inspection counts for context.
|
The average number of deficiencies this facility receives each time it's inspected, calculated as total deficiencies ÷ total inspections. A lower number suggests more consistent compliance with safety and care standards.
|
Name of the licensed owner, operator, or managing entity as filed with the state. Useful for grouping facilities under the same organization.
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron County Medical Care Facility | AL MC NH SNF | Crystal Falls | 200
Facility
200
MI AVG
74
Rank
#7 / 428 | No |
11
Facility
11
MI AVG
40
Rank
#595 / 674 | Private Rooms | 25
Facility
25
MI AVG
14
Rank
#83 / 295 | A+ | 4 | 19
Facility
19
MI AVG
8
Rank
#286 / 330 | 4.8
Facility
4.8
MI AVG
1.6
Rank
#311 / 330 | - |
| Chelsea Retirement Community | AL IL MC NH SNF | Chelsea | 172
Facility
172
MI AVG
74
Rank
#18 / 428 | Yes |
13
Facility
13
MI AVG
40
Rank
#576 / 674 | Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed / Cottage | - | - | 7 | 22
Facility
22
MI AVG
8
Rank
#296 / 330 | 3.1
Facility
3.1
MI AVG
1.6
Rank
#284 / 330 | United Methodist Retirement Communities Inc |
| Michigan Masonic Home | AL IL MC NH PC RC SNF | Alma | 124
Facility
124
MI AVG
74
Rank
#66 / 428 | No |
67
Facility
67
MI AVG
40
Rank
#88 / 674 | - | - | A+ | 11 | 14
Facility
14
MI AVG
8
Rank
#260 / 330 | 1.3
Facility
1.3
MI AVG
1.6
Rank
#164 / 330 | - |
| Lourdes Senior Community | AL HOS IL MC NH SNF | Waterford Twp (Watkins-Pontiac Estates) | 80
Facility
80
MI AVG
74
Rank
#175 / 428 | No |
8
Facility
8
MI AVG
40
Rank
#615 / 674 | Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Besser Senior Living Community | AL MC | Alpena | 52
Facility
52
MI AVG
74
Rank
#260 / 428 | Yes |
75
Facility
75
MI AVG
40
Rank
#53 / 674 | - | - | - | 2 | 5
Facility
5
MI AVG
8
Rank
#150 / 330 | 2.5
Facility
2.5
MI AVG
1.6
Rank
#258 / 330 | - |
Frequently Asked Questions about Besser Senior Living Community
Is Besser Senior Living Community in a walkable area?
Besser Senior Living Community has a walk score of 75. Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk.
What is the license number of Besser Senior Living Community?
According to MI state health department records, Besser Senior Living Community's license number is AH040394376.
When does Besser Senior Living Community's license expire?
According to MI state health department records, Besser Senior Living Community's license expires on July 31, 2027.
Does Besser Senior Living Community have different floorplan options?
Yes — see the floorplan options available at Besser Senior Living Community on this page.
Are pets allowed at Besser Senior Living Community?
Yes, Besser Senior Living Community allows residents to bring their pets.
How many beds does Besser Senior Living Community have?
Besser Senior Living Community has 52 beds.
Has Besser Senior Living Community had any deficiencies?
Besser Senior Living Community has had 5 reported deficiencies since 2020 according to records from Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
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