Ecumen Detroit Lakes Earns Prestigious Gold Credentialing through CARD Montessori Lifestyle and Awakenings Transformation

Ecumen Detroit Lakes is proud to announce its achievement of the Gold Credentialing through CARD Montessori Lifestyle (MIL) and Awakenings Transformation. This significant milestone reflects the community’s unwavering commitment to providing a resident-centered, dignified, and empowering environment for both residents and team members.

The Gold Credentialing recognizes Ecumen Detroit Lakes’ continued dedication to creating a thriving, independent community where individuals of all abilities are encouraged to make decisions, maintain autonomy, and engage meaningfully with their greater community. The community has consistently surpassed expectations, reaching a variety of milestones that reflect the core values of the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle (MIL), including respect, dignity, and inclusion.

“We are truly honored to have received the Gold Credentialing from CARD Montessori Lifestyle and Awakenings Transformation,” said Danielle Olson, Executive Director at Ecumen Detroit Lakes. “This achievement highlights our team’s commitment to fostering an environment where residents can live with purpose, autonomy, and respect, and it reflects the dedication of everyone at Ecumen Detroit Lakes who works hard every day to bring these values to life.”  

Gold Milestones: A Commitment to Excellence

Ecumen Detroit Lakes has demonstrated exemplary achievement in several key areas, including:

• Exemplary and Innovative Application of MIL Principles: Ecumen Detroit Lakes has successfully implemented unique and innovative practices such as the Good Ideas Committee, which empowers residents to collaborate and contribute new ideas that enhance their daily lives through life enrichment activities.
• Team Evaluations and Job Descriptions Reflecting MIL Values: The community ensures that job descriptions and team member evaluations align with MIL values, ensuring that the principles of dignity, respect, and community membership are integrated into every level of service.
• Sustainable Systems for Continued Success: Ecumen Detroit Lakes has put systems in place to ensure that their bronze and silver achievements are sustained, creating a lasting framework for excellence in care and resident engagement.
• Collaboration with CARD Experts: As part of the credentialing process, Ecumen Detroit Lakes completed a half-day site visit with a member of CARD to further refine and enhance their implementation of the Montessori principles.

Building on Bronze and Silver Milestones

This achievement follows a series of important milestones achieved during earlier stages of the process.

At the Bronze level, Ecumen Detroit Lakes focused on building relationships and creating an environment of choice and autonomy for residents and staff. These efforts included:

• Encouraging residents to call each other by name, enhancing personal connections.
• Providing residents with opportunities to make decisions, including participation in committees and volunteering for various roles.
• Promoting engaging interactions during family visits and ensuring cognitive ramps support wayfinding.

At the Silver level, the community expanded its commitment to ongoing learning and development, including:

• Implementing a system for in-service training led by internal trainers to ensure continuous growth.
• Emphasizing the community’s mission of dignity, equality, and respect.
• Ensuring residents have the ability to personalize their private spaces and contribute to decisions regarding shared areas.

Looking Ahead

With the Gold Credentialing, Ecumen Detroit Lakes has reaffirmed its position as a leader in creating a vibrant, empowered community where residents and team members are encouraged to live to their fullest potential. Moving forward, the community remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of care and continually innovating to improve the lives of residents and staff alike.

“Achieving this credential is just the beginning,” said Olson. “We will continue to build on this success and ensure that Ecumen Detroit Lakes remains a place where residents can thrive, feel valued, and enjoy a sense of community that is truly exceptional.”