Parmly Senior Housing and Services’ original residence was supposed to be built on Como Avenue in Saint Paul, not Chisago City. Unfortunately, for Saint Paul, its area congregations could only raise $16. Even in 1904-dollars that definitely was not enough to build a residence on Como. Chisago City-area congregations, however, could raise the money and they did. Saint Paul’s loss was Chisago City’s gain.

Parmly has come a long, long way since it built its first residence in Chisago City. It has a 23-acre campus, which is the envy of communities across the country. Parmly housing and service options include independent living, assisted living, a care center, memory care, adult day care, home services, respite care and transportation.

Parmly is truly a partner with its community. That was evidenced by the hundreds of people that came to celebrate Parmly’s "Hundraars Jubileum" (or hundred-year celebration for non-Swedish speakers) in late June. Parmly holds community-wide focus groups to help it determine how it’s doing and what are the most critical needs for the community. It was from these focus groups that Margaret’s House, a home-like residence for nine people with Ahlzeimer’s and related-memory loss became a reality. That community-collaboration also has led to clinical training to help citizens aid pastors on home visits, a program where local high school students can earn college credits in health care and an end-of-life initiative to assure the best possible experience for one’s final journey on this earth.

Here’s to Parmly’s next 100 years! To learn more about Parmly please go to www.parmly.org.

From the ashes tremendous things have risen in New Richmond, Wis. Boardman Meadows, a Ecumen independent housing residence, got off to a rocky start when during its construction two years ago, it burned to the ground. Construction began anew and 36 apartment residences subsidized through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) were built. Boardman Meadows is today fully occupied.

People enjoy living at Boardman Meadows because they feel part of a community that cares for them. The spirit that envelops Boardman Meadows starts with Boardman Meadows’ housing director Rose Lenzner.

Dana Wollschlager, Ecumen’s director of affordable housing, saw the potential in Rose, a former day care teacher and restaurant owner from Antigo, Wis., and gave her the opportunity to manage Boardman Meadows. Boardman Meadows has become a family affair. Rose’s nephew David Marciniak is caretaker and Rose’s husband Ken provides a tremendous helping hand.

Rose thrives in her new job and as a result her residents thrive, too. With Rose’s permission, we share the following excerpts from a letter that she sent Dana Wollschlager upon the joint anniversary of Rose’s first year with Ecumen and Boardman Meadows’ first anniversary:

Congratulations to Rose and the Boardman Meadows community.