Saint Therese of Woodbury will be Empira-Connected

Saint Therese • March 5, 2020

Empira Resource Nurse, Kelly Klund, LPN, will lead the year-long journey.


Supported through the combination of Saint Therese’s mission of doing ordinary things with extraordinary love and Empira’s vision of a future where aging is better tomorrow than today, Saint Therese of Woodbury is excited to announce that we are on the year-long journey to become an Empira-Connected Community!


Empira-Connected Communities acknowledge residents, guests, families and employees are more so united by what is commonly shared as opposed to differences separating us. Each person has a need to be understood and feel valued as well as the desire to thrive physically and identify with something bigger than ourselves. 


Throughout this year-long project, we will look deeply into our internal and external operational practices to ensure we provide the best care and services to meet the mental, physical and spiritual needs of everyone belonging to the Saint Therese family.

Empira Resource Nurse Kelly Klund, LPN will help lead this journey at Saint Therese of Woodbury. She’ll work with us to promote meaningful and active engagement as well as help us to protect our valuable sleep at night so we can live our best lives. We’re excited for this partnership with Empira! Our work together will ensure our community is a place where everyone feels like part of our family.



Together, we’ll get to know the people making up the heart of Saint Therese on a deeply meaningful level. By promoting the use of root cause analysis (RCA), our team will employ a more structured method of problem-solving to efficiently learn what, how and why a problem occurs. Then, we can determine how to prevent it from happening again.

While RCA is typically known for being explored when issues or roadblocks arise, it’s actually an extraordinary tool to be used when something goes right— to ensure that it happens again! We believe focusing performance improvement or the development of best practice at the very root cause is much more effective than merely reacting to every day success.


Saint Therese of Woodbury will be an Empira-Connected Community before we know it. We’re ready to embark on this journey because of the exceptional commitment of everyone at Saint Therese. Thank you for your willingness to act as pioneers, taking on a new approach to aging and positioning Saint Therese as industry leaders in quality improvement programming.

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.