Indispensable = Social Workers

Barb Hemberger • April 10, 2023

Beyond the Textbook: The Indispensable Role of Social Workers at Saint Therese


The textbook definition of a social worker goes something like this: “Social workers are professionals who aim to enhance overall well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of communities and people.”


That rather sterile definition hardly explains the variety and fast-paced nature of what social workers do. In fact, “indispensable” was how a member of the clinical faculty at the University of St. Thomas recently described them.


To better understand what our social workers do at Saint Therese senior communities, we talked to the social workers that head up their respective teams in Brooklyn Park, New Hope and Woodbury. We came away with a much richer grasp of the key role they play alongside the more visible role of nursing, the critical resource they are for families and residents, and the joy they get from their job.


Chelsie Plath, LSW, has been at Saint Therese at Oxbow Lake for more than five years and distinguishes what they do this way, “Part of our role is to remind the resident and the team that in addition to the medical needs, we need to provide the psycho-social care.” For instance, in a transitional care unit (TCU), the goal is to rehab the resident, but social workers get involved from the time of admission through to the discharge stage and everything in between that isn’t medically focused. They counsel, provide resources and referrals to families and residents and get them emotionally ready to be discharged and everything in between.

Chelsie said social workers need to be a jack of all trades. “You have to be flexible in your day and handle whatever falls onto your plate. I start out with a rough draft of what my day will look like, but most days you shift your plans based on the needs of your residents.”


She said a good day is when she knows that the resident and staff are happy. “It fills my cup. It means we’re doing something right and that the effort we’ve put in is making a difference.”

Chelsie and her colleague Chloe Johnson handle the social work duties for 64 residents in the TCU and long term care.



When asked what makes a good social worker, Chelsie said someone who is empathetic, who listens, is willing to be an active part of the interdisciplinary team and is the best advocate for the residents.

Two people standing side-by-side smiling in an office, one holding a laptop and both wearing red lanyards.

Michael Benson, director of Social Services, has been at Saint Therese of New Hope for more than five years as well. His team of four social workers handles 168 residents, which includes a 57-bed TCU.



He agreed that flexibility is essential to the job. He starts his day with best laid plans, but those plans frequently go out the window.

 “We’re problem solvers, counselors, discharge planners, and advocates for the family, the resident and the facility. We help a family member struggling with guilt over having someone in long term care, we look for missing eyeglasses, facilitate resolution and offer our condolences…and that’s all before lunch.”



He said social workers have to set aside their own judgement and understand the family’s point of view and the facility’s point of view and then find the right balance.

A person smiles at a laptop on a standing desk in an office setting with shelves and documents in the background.

Mike took an indirect path to social work, gaining valuable experience in group homes, placement agencies, day programs and in hospice. Not surprisingly, all require the desire to help others.


“My favorite part of the job is connecting with residents,” Mike said. “I take so much away from the experience when I have meaningful engagements. And, at the end of the day, I want to help improve the lives of those in our care.”



Other members of the New Hope social work team are Leslie Robertson, Callie Wold, Kerri Scheiller and Amy Sinayoko.

Amanda “Mandy” Marshall, LSW, CCM, has been with Saint Therese of Woodbury for one year and is in wholehearted agreement with her colleagues about the skill set needed by social workers.



“We have to be flexible about our plans for the day and respond to the issues that come up; we have to prioritize and go with the flow,” she said. “The days are never the same and you have to accept that, whatever you had planned for the day, it most likely won’t happen.”

A smiling person with curly hair wears a floral top while sitting at a desk with a computer mouse and papers.

But with that uncertainty comes rewards. Just hearing a “thanks for what you do,” from a resident or family member is a gold star to Mandy. “We do a lot behind the scenes. We’re constantly communicating with the residents and their families because it can be very confusing. And if they have no family, we advocate on their behalf.”



She got into social work because she wanted to work in the healthcare field and help people but realized nursing wasn’t her calling. She said the three key qualities for a social worker are: to be flexible, be organized and laugh.

In addition to Mandy, other members of the Woodbury team are Mary Brownlow, LSW, discharge planner, and Jade Nei, assistant.



A heartfelt thanks to the entire Saint Therese social worker team.

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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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The “Three Musketeers” Who Help Make St. Mary of the Woods Feel Like Home

By Barb Hemberger • September 16, 2026
The work of environmental services professionals is often most noticeable when it’s not done. Yet these dedicated staff members contribute to nearly every part of daily life in a senior living community. They help protect residents’ health and safety, keep shared spaces clean and welcoming, and handle countless details that allow a community to operate smoothly. Just as importantly, they become familiar, trusted faces for the residents they serve. During National Environmental Services Week , Saint Therese is recognizing these essential professionals and the difference they make every day. At St. Mary of the Woods , that includes three longtime housekeepers with a particularly special connection. Connie Smith, Felicia Smith and Dorothy Clark have each worked at the community for 20 years. Over the years, they have become much more than colleagues. “We stick together,” they said. “We’re the Three Musketeers.” A place to build a career Felicia remembers driving past St. Mary of the Woods before she began working there. “This is where I’m going to retire from,” she told herself. Decades later, her prediction appears to have been a good one. The three women came to St. Mary of the Woods from very different places. Dorothy is from Avon, Felicia is originally from Alabama, and Connie came to the United States from Germany when she was 19. Connie and Felicia are sisters-in-law, while Connie and Dorothy discovered they are only 10 days apart in age. Their children are also close in age. Through years of working side by side, the three have developed a friendship grounded in mutual respect, shared experiences and a genuine love for the residents they serve. “We’re like their family,” they said. “We’re always here.” They also credit their supervisor, Dave Csalos, with creating a supportive environment for the team. “He’s so good,” they said. “We couldn’t ask for anything more.” Work that touches daily life For housekeepers, environmental services work is both practical and deeply personal. They regularly spend time in residents’ homes, where they notice the small things, share conversations and provide the reassuring consistency that helps a community feel like home. For employees such as Connie, Felicia and Dorothy, those relationships have grown over the years. Their longevity also brings something invaluable to St. Mary of the Woods: experience. They understand the community, know its rhythms and take pride in helping everything run as it should. This Environmental Services Week, Saint Therese thanks Connie, Felicia and Dorothy, along with environmental services professionals throughout the organization . Their dependable work, attention to detail and care for residents make a difference every day. ____ Shown in the photo above are (left to right): Connie Smith, Felicia Smith and Dorothy Clark.

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Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: When to Choose Each

By Barb Hemberger • June 23, 2026
It is important to understand the assisted living vs memory care debate. Assisted living supports older adults who need help with daily activities , while memory care provides specialized care for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive conditions. Memory care includes additional safety measures, structured routines, and staff training designed specifically for the unique challenges associated with memory loss. For many families, understanding the difference becomes an important part of making an informed decision. While both assisted living and memory care provide support in a community setting, they serve different needs and are designed for different stages of aging. If you are trying to determine which option may be the best fit, it is helpful to understand these better. You must know how each level of care works, who it is designed for, and what signs may indicate it is time to consider additional support. What is Assisted Living and Memory Care? Assisted living and memory care are both senior living options that provide support with daily life, but they differ in the type and intensity of care they offer. Assisted living is designed for older adults who remain largely independent but need help with certain activities. These can include medication management, dressing, bathing, mobility, or household tasks. Memory care is specifically designed for individuals experiencing cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other memory-related conditions. The primary difference is that memory care includes specialized programs and secure environments. The care approaches are tailored to the unique needs of individuals living with memory loss. Assisted Living vs Memory Care: A Side-by-Side Comparison To understand the differences better, let us look at a side-by-side comparison of the two levels of care.