Post by Laurel Baxter, M.A., R.N., Ecumen Quality Improvement NurseWhen I saw the You Tube video "Moments with Baxter" the therapy dog, I immediately thought of Ecumen. I thought about the beautiful bedside services I've attended at Ecumen communities. I

We all die and have to get better as a country in preparing for that inevitable part of life. That reality has spawned a new online advice column - - by longtime journalist and hospice volunteer Judy Bachrach. Here's more

Photo by Jessica Janoski, Saint Paul Pioneer PressThe world is made of collaborative opportunities. Seizing on that the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Luther Seminary in Saint Paul and the Minneapolis-based senior housing provider Augustana have created a new

Patrick Roden has a good reminder about how the combo of ladders and holiday lights can screw up one's desire to age in place. Hat tip to Tom Mann for the photo above.

What does age have to do with it? Dig this column by Sy Rosen, playwright who has written for Frasier, The Bob Newhart Show, The Wonder Years and other TV shows:Lately I've noticed a lot of news stories that seem

WindSong is a beautiful new senior housing community developed by Ecumen for North Country Health Services in Bemidji, Minnesota. It celebrated it's grand opening last week.Congratulations to our friends at North Country Health Services on making this new community a

The Senate voted earlier today to preserve The CLASS Plan, a new long-term care insurance program to help seniors and the disabled in its health overhaul bill. Thanks to everyone who made calls to their Senators yesterday!

As you know, the Senate is currently deciding which provisions will remain in their final health reform legislation. We understand that Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) plans to submit an amendment to strike the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS)

On the Nile River a few days ago our felucca sailboat passed beneath the tea terrace of the elegant Old Cataract Hotel in Egypt's Aswan. To the west the amber dunes of the Sahara spread into the desert infinity. But

is one of America's gems. Author of five books, and a former daily and weekend host of National Public Radio's All Things Considered, her new release is a another gift. In this book, the Minnesota native who now resides in

The movement of the Age Wave continues to bring new perspectives, new ideas and new careers:Former Seattle Times columnist Liz Taylor and partners have launched a blog: From 1994 - 2008, she wrote an enormously popular weekly column on aging

The Minneapolis Star Tribune this week on nursing home falls and deaths. A few observations from this end. Am curious to yours:The Pain of Loss: The stories clearly convey the deep pain felt when losing a loved one, the frailty

The connection between music, emotions & memory has long been scientifically . Music therapy is an effective intervention for those suffering from brain damage, stroke or dementia, improving mood, cognitive function and accessing long-dormant memories. , Bronx, NY, has taken

It's powerful how people's caregiving experiences drive them to share and contribute to make the experiences of others better. Here are two new resources from former family caregivers that have been brought to our attention:eCare Diary is a website created

Today is Veterans Day, which honors so many of our customers, colleagues and family members and friends. To all who have given their service to our country, we say thank you.If you have a story of a Veteran you'd like

Ecumen congratulate the House of Representatives for including The CLASS Plan as part of their historic health care bill passed on Saturday evening. Debate now turns to the Senate.

Not one of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes made the list of "Affordable Places on the Water to Retire" by Here's the magazine's top picks:•Bella Vista, Ark. •Bismarck, N.D. •Cape Coral, Fla. •Dover, Del. •Dubuque, Iowa •Fairhope, Ala. •Lake Jackson, Texas •Loveland,

The other morning during the TODAY Show (not cheap ad space) an ad ran for the Toyota RAV 4. You know how some commercials portray "real people" or "tell stories?" This ad featured a home care nurse, sharing how she

Photo by Bruce Bisping, Star Tribune"Getting a tattoo is just something I've always wanted to do; I've seen so many pretty ones," said Millie Gignac, 89, a former benefits director for Sperry Univac, founder of its retirees club and a

Aging is a movement . . . which provides senior housing and services in Northern California, is Changing Aging in America. For a great resource, we encourage you to download their new vision book: . As Todd Murch, their president