The Village Model of Aging-in-Place Gaining Momentum

Most seniors still prefer to stay in their homes if they can, and a recent trend is toward the “village” cooperative model of assisted living where communities of seniors ban together to help one another age well in their own homes.

Groups of seniors create a membership organization that runs programs and assembles services to keep seniors in their homes and to help them live life to the fullest.

One of the pioneering village organizations is Mill City Commons in Minneapolis, which Ecumen had the honor of helping start.  On its website, Mill City Commons describes it work this way: “By offering a wide variety of services – from in-home preferred vendor lists, cultural and social events and member-to-member volunteer opportunities to health and wellness programs, educational and special interest programs and community service – Mill City Commons fulfills its mission: to connect its members with the services and information to live their lives to the fullest for as long as they choose to live in our Riverfront neighborhood.”

NBC News anchor Brian Williams recently highlighted the village model in an interview with his wife’s parents, who are part of a Connecticut cooperative called Staying Put.


Minneapolis on the Banks of the Mississippi River

Ecumen & Mill City Commons Appear in UK Financial Times

Minnesota senior housing companies - including Ecumen and Mill City Commons - gained international attention this week in a UK Financial Times article.Minneapolis on the Banks of the Mississippi River

Mill City Commons is a leader in the grassroots movement to create senior lifestyle neighborhoods. Ecumen helped establish the membership-based community in 2008. Read more about how Minnesota is creating Baby Boomer-friendly living in the article "Minnesota Targets Baby Boomers with Specialist Housing Options".

Photo courtesy of UK Financial Times.


Minneapolis on the Banks of the Mississippi River

Ecumen Leaders to Serve on State Committee, Board

Two Ecumen community leaders have agreed to represent the senior health care profession with two state-wide groups.

Janet Green PhotoJanet Green, executive director at Ecumen Detroit Lakes, has agreed to serve on the Governor’s Workforce Development Council - Career Pathways Committee. The group develops policy and strategy recommendations to help grow, align and sustain career pathways in Minnesota. One issue the group will address is the mismatch of workers’ skills and job openings that are most prevalent in manufacturing and health care.

Green has served on various local and regional workforce boards and initiatives over the past 15 years, including the area’s Workforce Investment Board; the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (CEP) which serves 19 counties in west central region; and the Minnesota Workforce Council Executive Committee. She has been with Ecumen since 1994.

Nathan Johnson, executive director at Ecumen North Branch, was appointed by Governor Dayton to the Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA). The board is responsible for setting the qualifications required for licensure, reviews complaints against licensed administrators, and refers consumer-related issues to other state and private agencies.

Johnson, who has been with Ecumen since 2011, will serve the Board as one of two non-profit nursing home administrators. The other is Jennifer Pfeffer, executive director at Ecumen Pathstone Living in Mankato.