Saint Therese renews commitment to safe senior care

Saint Therese • October 24, 2019

The City of New Hope Declared Minnesota’s First Safe Care for Seniors City

On October 23, community members gathered at Saint Therese of New Hope to renew their commitment to enhancing seniors’ lives with respect, safety, dignity by taking the Safe Care for Seniors Pledge, a movement designed by LeadingAge Minnesota to empower senior communities to create and strengthen inclusive, safe and trusted places seniors are proud to call home. The Safe Care for Seniors pledge is focused on respect, dignity and preventing harm and kicks-off the implementation of an organization-wide five-step action plan:

1. Commitment, training & engagement in Safe Care for Seniors program

2. Designation of a Safety Champion to lead improvement initiatives

3. Ongoing participation in learning & improvement opportunities

4. Engage seniors & families in ways to grow community, safety & quality

5. Build & strengthen a culture of safety


Inspired by Saint Therese’s ongoing commitment to compassionate senior care, City of New Hope Mayor Kathi Hemken spoke during the event and declared the City of New Hope a Safe Care for Seniors City—a first for Minnesota.


“The City of New Hope commends Saint Therese for its pledge to serve seniors with safe care. Our city council supports the Safe Care for Seniors program in our community.”

– City of New Hope Mayor Kathi Hemken

Creating a culture of safety and person-centered, holistic care has been a key focus for Saint Therese since 1968. And in the years since, the organization has thoughtfully grown around what’s right for residents, families and the neighborhoods it serves. Today, the organization operates five Twin Cities’ senior living communities providing a continuum of compassionate care that incorporates everything from independent living to long-term, memory and comfort care. 

“We united to renew our heartfelt commitment to seniors; to always advocate for safe community living and be driven by our faith-based Guiding Behaviors so we provide the best care with respect, dignity and extraordinary love.”

– Brooke Peoples, Executive Director of Saint Therese of New Hope

In addition to Saint Therese employees attending the event, senior residents and their families were present as well as notable representatives from in and around the New Hope area. West Metro Fire & Rescue, the New Hope Police Department, State Representative Lyndon Carlson and Minnesota Senator Karin Housley were among the those pledging to advocate for seniors’ quality of life.

Stay Connected


Search All Posts


About

At Saint Therese, our heartfelt purpose since 1968 has been a people first approach to living well by providing senior care and services where every life we touch feels welcomed, respected, and heard. We achieve this by doing ordinary things with extraordinary love every single day. Contact us to learn more. 

By Barb Hemberger May 23, 2025
The 2025 America’s Health Rankings® Senior Report was recently released, offering a comprehensive overview of the health and well-being of older adults across the United States. The report, based on 55 measures from 24 distinct data sources, highlights both strides made and challenges persisting in senior health. While there is encouraging progress in areas like reduced early death rates and strengthened social connectedness among older adults, significant mental and behavioral health challenges remain. Key Findings from the Report Falls and obesity rates have stabilized after peaking earlier this decade. The number of geriatric clinicians increased by 5 percent, marking the highest rate ever recorded by the rankings. Volunteerism saw a 19 percent increase between 2021 and 2023. The healthiest state for older adults was Vermont, followed by Colorado, Washington, Utah, and Connecticut. Meanwhile, Mississippi ranked as the least healthy state, with Louisiana, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Kentucky following suit. Insights from States with Saint Therese Senior Communities Minnesota ranked 7th overall, placing it among the top 10 healthiest states for older adults. It showed a promising 13 percent increase in the number of geriatric clinicians between 2021 and 2024. However, the state also experienced a significant 23 percent rise in depression rates among adults aged 65 and older, increasing from 12.8 to 15.7 percent between 2018 and 2023. Michigan secured the 21st spot in the rankings. The state showed notable improvements, including an 18 percent drop in falls, decreasing from 32.6 to 26.7 percent of adults aged 65 and older between 2014 and 2023. Additionally, cognitive difficulty rates decreased by 13 percent, from 8.8 to 7.7 percent during the same period. Ohio ranked 36th overall, but one bright spot was a significant 35 percent increase in the number of geriatric clinicians between September 2019 and September 2024. Positive Signs for Volunteering The news about volunteering is a positive sign as emerging evidence shows that older adults who volunteer regularly have fewer cognitive complaints and a lower risk for dementia compared with those who do not volunteer regularly. At Saint Therese, volunteers are as much a part of our organization as our residents, families, visitors, and employees. We rely on and value the countless hours and dedication of those who support our mission by volunteering in our communities. We are always looking for volunteers. To find out more, or to apply to be a volunteer, please visit us here. The Bottom Line The 2025 Senior Report, produced by the United Health Foundation, underscores the complexities of senior health in the United States. While strides have been made in areas such as access to specialized care and volunteer engagement, persistent challenges like obesity, depression, and behavioral health highlight the need for continued efforts. The Report serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing work needed to ensure a healthier future for older adults across the nation.
By Kathy Nelson, Fitness Specialist April 24, 2025
At Ascend Rehabilitation , we believe that wellness is more than just exercise—it’s about fostering strength, confidence, and connection. Our wellness and fitness program seamlessly integrates with therapy to help residents and clients improve their physical, mental, and social well-being. 
By Barb Hemberger December 12, 2024
Our newest Twin Cities senior living community, Saint Therese of Corcoran, is stunning. In so many ways. As you walk in the main entrance, you can feel its vibrancy, energy,… The post Saint Therese of Corcoran’s Stained Glass Window – A Labor of Love appeared first on Saint Therese Blog.