HEART OF STEELE

My grandparents both passed away more than 30 years ago, in nursing homes that looked dark and depressing and did little to make visiting them easy or enjoyable for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Today, my 85-year-old mother lives comfortably in a small apartment that one of her grandchildren just decorated for Christmas. Every day, she looks out a big picture window into a beautiful courtyard. She walks down for congregate meals and exercise classes and other activities with friends she has made over the past few years.

I thought about her last week as I walked through the doors of Benedictine Living Community in Owatonna. The spacious entrance is filled with a light and warmth that spreads throughout the facility, where residents are in for short- and long-term stays.

Instead of wings, the building has neighborhoods. Though staff members float as needed, they’re also anchored in those areas, to provide familiar faces and a deeper knowledge of the residents.

The physical therapy room includes not only exercise equipment, but a kitchen, a set of stairs, and other equipment designed to help people get back to their lives whenever that’s possible.

Walking through the common areas felt like walking through someone’s living room, with comfortable furnishings and Christmas decorations adding a homey touch.

While I haven’t had the chance to visit them, I know other facilities in Owatonna offer similar home-like settings. It’s a trend that should give comfort to families who can’t provide care for their beloved parents

I honestly believe the best way to age is in place, at home and in your community, for as long as possible. There are dozens of studies showing that people who can maintain connections with family and friends, and with their community activities, live longer and healthier.

But when that’s not possible, it’s good to know that there are welcoming homes waiting in the heart of our community.