Ecumen - Changing Aging Blog

Jim Klobuchar: A Young Man Rolls the Dice

Date: Aug 23rd, 2012 11:14am
Author: Andrea Marboe
Category: Jim Klobuchar

Four years ago at a family gathering on Thanksgiving Day in Arizona I sat next to a young man in his senior year in high school and in the midst of a decision.

I’d known him only briefly. For most of the people at the table I was what we once called an in-law. Today, in the more charitable description of an outsider, I’m a member of the extended family. David was an impressive kid, physically conditioned, well-mannered and deferring to the older folks in the cross-conversation the holiday dinner. Earlier his father had mentioned his son’s interest in the military as one possibility.

“I’m thinking of college,” the young man said. “But I’m also thinking of enlisting in the Marines.”

This was in 2008. American forces in Iraq were still taking casualties. In Afghanistan it was worse and was now formally being described as a quagmire.

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A Sad Farewell

Date: Aug 13th, 2012 9:43am
Author: Andrea Marboe
Category: Honor

Faye Florence Green, Ecumen Lakeshore Special Events and Volunteer Coordinator, passed away recently after a hard fight with ovarian cancer. Faye was just 65, and a beloved member of the Ecumen Lakeshore family since 2008.

“Faye truly was a gift to Lakeshore as an employee and lived a life of service to others,” says Paul Libbon, former Executive Director of Ecumen Lakeshore, now Ecumen’s Director of Managed Campus Operations. “She deeply impacted the lives of those she touched and I will always remember her with smiles.”

Faye kept working through all of her various treatments, even when they left her fatigued. She LOVED all of the residents at The Crest, and did such a marvelous job guiding the Auxiliary, coordinating volunteers, and was a wonderful event planner. “She helped with all of our parties, socials, and making sure there was a host of activities and programs to keep everyone engaged, busy and happy,” according to Roxanne Sternberg, Residence Director at The Crest. “I miss Faye's bright smile, enthusiasm and zest for life. May she rest eternal in Heaven.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with Faye’s family and friends.

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In Our New Old Age, Minnesota Must Move Beyond Medicaid

Date: Aug 6th, 2012 12:21pm
Author: Eric Schubert
Category: Public Policy

Ecumen CEO Kathryn Roberts shares ideas for needed public policy changes in our aging country and state.

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Ecumen Bethany Community celebrates new Memory Care and expanded Short-Term Rehabilitation

Date: Jul 25th, 2012 12:53pm
Author: Andrea Marboe
Category: senior housing

Ecumen Bethany Community celebrated the completion of their new Memory Care and expanded Short-Term Rehabilitation services with a Community Open House on July 26. Ribbon Cutting, a Dedication Prayer, tours, rootbeer floats -- fun for everyone! The "Minnesota Minutemen” from Lutheran Island Camp in Henning also gave an interactive presentation.

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Ecumen Parmly LifePointes Customer's Gets Big Surprise as WW II Dog Tags Returned From Germany

Date: Jul 3rd, 2012 9:56am
Author: Eric Schubert
Category: Honor

Ecumen Parmly LifePointes shares a neat story of honor with the help of a shopkeeper in Germany, his customer, Google and others.

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Baby Boomers: Today's American Innovation Force

Date: Jun 27th, 2012 4:18pm
Author: Eric Schubert
Category: innovation in longevity revolution

Baby boomers are the largest entrepreneurial force in America - not the generation to which Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerman and many other digital pioneers belong.

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In Honor & Memory: Melvin Babcock, Ecumen North Branch

Date: Jun 22nd, 2012 9:56am
Author: Andrea Marboe
Category: living fully

Ecumen North Branch lost a lovely soul this week, Melvin Babcock, age 92. See Melvin and another Ecumen North Branch resident, Hazel, in a KARE 11 TV feature about Ecumen's Awakenings initiative.

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Ecumen Detroit Lakes: Ducks Deliver the Mail!

Date: Jun 21st, 2012 11:44am
Author: Andrea Marboe
Category: living fully

What's not to love about a few sweet ducklings waddling along to help deliver your mail? Ecumen Detroit Lakes shares a sweet story with KVRR Fox TV about their special delivery service.

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Ecumen: 150 Years of Creating Home

Date: Jun 19th, 2012 5:09pm
Author: Andrea Marboe
Category: senior housing

"Whether providing a home for orphaned children, or now providing an array of senior services, we've really stayed connected to that mission of creating home..."