Mentors in Senior Care — Saint Therese Staff Guides the Next Generation

Barb Hemberger • March 8, 2023

One of the great things about Saint Therese, and something to be proud of, is our efforts to train new healthcare professionals in the complexities of geriatric care. Our senior communities in Woodbury, Brooklyn Park (Oxbow Lake) and New Hope are currently hosting Rasmussen University nursing students for their clinical rotations. But, we also have a number of staff who spend considerable time to help mentor and shape current and future professionals.


One such person is Morganna Moon, RN, MSN, Director of EMR and Education for Saint Therese (EMR stands for electronic medical record), who has trained countless nurses. She recently mentored a student in Walden University’s doctorate program for nurse practitioners, where she focused on organizational and leadership development.


“I know how hard it is to find preceptors and how valuable they are,” said Morganna. “I’m very passionate about it, especially now when we can’t get people into nursing.” (A preceptor is an experienced licensed clinician who supervises nursing students during their clinical rotations. Their role is to help students translate theoretical learning to clinical practice.)


For her Walden student, Morganna spent 160 hours exposing him to other aspects of clinical leadership beyond bedside care. He shadowed her as she attended meetings, took part in calls, and learned the organizational hierarchy and how it functions, something he wouldn’t be exposed to when doing patient care.



When Saint Therese expanded its relationship withRasmussen, Lisa Kalla, chief operations officer and Jessica Gier, vice president of Clinical Operations & Reimbursement, immediately thought of Morganna as someone who could help mentor students who were highly motivated and autonomous.

She’s currently mentoring Susan Maranga who has worked at Saint Therese of New Hope for more than 20 years and is now finishing her baccalaureate degree with Rasmussen. Susan is spending 45 hours learning leadership skills under Morganna’s tutelage.



“We don’t have enough educators and people formally trained in education, so we are so thrilled that Morganna is more than willing to take on these students. As she often says, ‘if you don’t have educators, how do you get nurses through schools.’”

Similarly, Andrew Pfaff, RD, at Saint Therese of New Hope, is proud of and relishes his role as a preceptor for dietetic students at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. While he was a preceptor before coming to Saint Therese, he began doing it here in 2021.

He said the students start off shadowing him and then move on to experience things such as meeting and educating residents; doing assessments; charting; interacting with patients; attending interdisciplinary team meetings and menu planning. They spend about 80 hours with Andrew, but he encourages them to have as much autonomy as possible.



“I love to be a part of someone’s journey to be a dietitian,” said Andrew. “I have this mentality that if they can learn one new thing a day, then we’re being successful. I love to share the knowledge.”

He said he’s also encouraged by the evolution of dietetics as it becomes more and more pertinent to patient care. “Caring for seniors has been very medicine-focused but now people are valuing food and nutrition.”



That’s a good sign, and a fitting one, as today, March 8, is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day.

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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. 

2025 Senior Health: Progress, Challenges, and Key State Insights

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.

Ascend Wellness & Fitness: Elevating Health, Confidence, and Community

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. 

Saint Therese of Corcoran’s Stained Glass Window – A Labor of Love

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.