Saint Therese Nurses Take a Bow

Barb Hemberger • May 17, 2022

Healthcare workers were rightfully applauded for their selfless and heroic work during the pandemic. Nurses, a critical part of any team – and absolutely vital for a senior living community such as Saint Therese – were especially commended.


And we’ll do the same this month as we celebrate National Nurses Month, a time to promote, support and honor the varying role of nurses and the positive impacts they make every day.



For the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to some of the nurses at our Saint Therese locations.


At Saint Therese of Woodbury, Stacy Meyer, RN, and Andrea Brown, LPN, (left to right respectively), along with 11 home health aides, provide care for the more than 80 residents in independent living, assisted living and memory care.


They both have been nurses for more than 25 years and say what keeps them in senior living is the residents and the ties they’ve made with them. They also credit the cohesive team they’ve created.


Stacy, who has worked in many healthcare settings over her career, said what makes this environment so rewarding is that she sees results the same day. “I can go home and know that I actually did something to make one of my residents better. That is powerful.”


She was attracted to nursing and caring for the elderly population at a young age. She was 16 when she volunteered in a memory care and helped play bingo with the residents. She said she loved the enthusiasm the residents had, even by just winning a banana.


“At that moment I knew I wanted to work with the elderly.” She said she finds them very wise and learns a lot from them. And, with a degree in Sociology, Stacy is fascinated by their stories, and is often able to engage with residents in memory care and get them to “light up.”


“I feel like I’m doing God’s work. I don’t know what I’d do if not this. And, as important as the care I’m providing, I’m the gateway between the families and our residents.”


Andrea wasn’t called to nursing at a young age like Stacy, but she said she’s always been a caretaker.

“I’m a mother figure to everyone, so nursing was a natural way for me to fulfill that inclination,” said Andrea.

She said she’s stayed at Saint Therese for so long because of the bonds she’s created with residents, families and staff. “We get to know everyone, we’re like a family and that means something.”


Nurses mean a lot to Jill Acosta, executive director and campus administrator at Saint Therese of Woodbury, who has nothing but praise for nurses.


“We wouldn’t exist without nurses,” she said. “We owe them everything, they make a world a better place for all that they do.”


She’s not alone. In 2021, for an impressive 20th consecutive year, nursing was rated as the most trusted profession, according to a Gallup poll.

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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. 

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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.