Empira

08/29/2025

Retention isn’t luck—it’s design. 📊🔑🤝

Four great organizations. One shared goal: keep great people growing with us.

Together, we’re rolling out stay interviews and career pathways—two evidence-based practices that boost engagement and retention.

Cassia , Saint Therese , Presbyterian Homes & Services, Volunteers of America National Services

Apple Valley Village, Moose Lake Village, Hastings Senior Health & Living, Lakeside Generations, Haven Homes, Redeemer Health & Rehab Center, Park View Senior Health & Living, Elim Wellspring, Carondelet Village, Boutwells Landing, Waverly Gardens, Saint Therese of Oxbow Lake, Saint Therese of Woodbury, The Homestead at Rochester, The Homestead at Anoka

08/27/2025

Tomorrow we bring together leaders from 15 buildings and 4 organizations (Cassia, Saint Therese, Presbyterian Homes & Services Volunteers of America National Services) to shape the future of the OARS (on-boarding and retention strategies) program! 🚀 We’ll explore career pathways, stay interviews, and build connections that strengthen our entire consortium. This milestone moment is all about empowering growth, collaboration, and success—together.

Apple Valley Village, Moose Lake Village, Hastings Senior Health & Living, Lakeside Generations, Haven Homes, Redeemer Health & Rehab Center, Park View Senior Health & Living, Elim Wellspring, Carondelet Village, Boutwells Landing, Waverly Gardens, Saint Therese of Oxbow Lake, Saint Therese of Woodbury, The Homestead at Rochester, The Homestead at Anoka

08/11/2025

Unlock Your Brain’s Potential: How Learning New Skills Helps Keep Your Mind Sharp

Ever notice how mastering something new—like juggling, salsa steps, or a foreign phrase—leaves you feeling energized? That spark comes from your brain’s extraordinary ability to adapt, called neuroplasticity. Even as we get older, our brains can grow new neural connections when challenged with fresh experiences.

Consider a study where older adults took part in digital photography and Photoshop workshops—they showed significantly improved memory compared to peers who didn’t engage in similar learning opportunities. Another group that learned ballroom dancing not only had fun but also enjoyed gains in memory and planning skills compared to those doing typical exercise routines (Park et al., 2013).

Why does this matter? Because building these new neural pathways increases your cognitive reserve—your brain’s buffer against age-related decline and even dementia. A richer reserve often delays the appearance of cognitive symptoms, even when physical changes in the brain are present.

What makes this approach especially powerful is its ripple effect. Learning something new often means connecting with others, staying motivated, and feeling a sense of accomplishment. These elements all nurture brain health too.

So, whether it’s watercolor painting, coding, gardening, or learning a song on the ukulele—pick something you've never tried before. Commit just a few hours a week, and enjoy the journey. Your brain will thank you—not just with sharper thinking, but with a more engaged, joyful life.

Reference:
Park, D. C., Lodi-Smith, J., Drew, L., Haber, S., Hebrank, A., Bischof, G. N., & Aamodt, W. (2013). The impact of sustained engagement on cognitive function in older adults. Psychological Science, 25(1), 103-112. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797613499592

07/24/2025

Here’s to lifting each other up, one handwritten superpower at a time. 💬💪✨

Cassia Volunteers of America National Services Saint Therese Presbyterian Homes & Services

07/23/2025

Beat the Minnesota Heat: Self-Care Tips for Seniors in Hot & Humid Weather 🌞 Why this matters now!!

Minnesota—including the Twin Cities—is facing a hot, humid pattern from July 23 through July 27, with heat indexes climbing into the upper 80s–90s °F alongside strong storms and high humidity.

Extreme heat and humidity are on the rise in Minnesota, increasing seniors’ vulnerability to heat-related illnesses.

Older bodies sweat less and struggle to cool down quickly. Medications and chronic conditions (heart, lung, kidney) compound the issue.

Humidity amplifies danger by blocking cooling through evaporation, raising real-feel temperature and increasing dehydration, cramps, exhaustion, or even heat stroke.

Heat stresses the heart, worsens respiratory issues (especially in humid air), and may trigger kidney problems or mental health concerns.

📢 Call to Action for Families & Care Communities

With summer in full swing and humidity intensifying, now is the time to act:

✅ Set up hydration and cooling strategies —stock water, install fans, or get a portable cooling option.
✅ Let seniors know where public cooling spaces are and how to get there—consider rideshares or buddies.
✅ Share this blog with family members, neighbors, and local senior groups in Minnesota to drive awareness.

When it comes to heat, prevention saves lives. Let’s all help Minnesota seniors stay cool, safe, and connected this summer.

Stay safe—and keep your loved ones safe—this week and beyond!

07/09/2025

Today, we celebrate 24 incredible years of serving the Aging Services community with passion, innovation, and heart. For over two decades, Empira has remained committed to enhancing the lives of older adults and empowering those who care for them.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey. Here's to the next chapter in our story — stronger, wiser, and more inspired than ever. 🥳🎂🍭🎈

07/03/2025

Wishing you a happy and safe 4th of July!

06/19/2025

Today, we honor Juneteenth — a celebration of freedom and resilience.

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, news of freedom finally reached enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas. Juneteenth reminds us of the power of truth and justice.

06/17/2025

Great job Lumin!!!

🎊 Congrats to Lumin, the Carondelet Village High Five winner for June! 🎊

The community shares: "Lumin brings light and love to Carondelet Village. 💓 He has represented the PHS value of Ready and Engaged People, and has done a stellar job managing his team, as nutrition and culinary supervisor." 🙌

Lumin, thank you for your service to PHS! Join us in congratulating him in the comments below.

06/10/2025

“More Than Just Colleagues: Why Genuine Relationships at Work Drive Retention and Satisfaction”

In today's rapidly shifting workplace landscape, with rising burnout and increasing disengagement, there is one key factor that consistently predicts whether people stay or go: the quality of their relationships at work.

We spend roughly a third of our lives at work, so it makes sense that having meaningful connections with coworkers can make or break the experience. But this isn’t just feel-good fluff. Research shows that strong interpersonal bonds in the workplace are a powerful lever for improving retention, productivity, and overall employee well-being.

A landmark study by Gallup found that employees who report having a “best friend at work” are seven times more likely to be engaged in their jobs and are significantly more likely to stay with their company long-term . The presence of a close colleague fosters trust, improves collaboration, and makes employees feel seen and supported—conditions that dramatically reduce the likelihood of quitting.

Amy Edmondson of Harvard Business School popularized the concept of psychological safety, which refers to an environment where team members feel safe to take risks and express themselves without fear of negative consequences.
Teams with high psychological safety—often cultivated through strong personal relationships—have been shown to perform better, innovate more, and experience lower burnout.

The U.S. Surgeon General has declared loneliness a public health concern. In workplaces, isolation is strongly linked to increased stress, disengagement, and absenteeism. A 2022 report by BetterUp found that workplace belonging was linked to a 56% increase in job performance, a 50% drop in turnover risk, and a 75% reduction in sick days.

Fostering strong relationships isn’t about mandatory happy hours or team-building games. It requires a culture of intentionality and vulnerability.

Here are a few evidence-based strategies:

Encourage peer mentoring and cross-functional collaboration.
These approaches create opportunities for real connection.

Design spaces for informal interaction. Whether it's a Slack channel for shared interests or a cozy break room, these spaces encourage spontaneous relationship-building.

Train managers to model relational leadership. When leaders are open, empathetic, and relational, it sets the tone for the entire team.

If you’re a leader, ask yourself: Do your people feel seen, supported, and connected?

If not, you may be losing more than morale—you could be bleeding talent. Start small: host a one-on-one coffee chat, recognize a teammate publicly, or create a team ritual that promotes sharing beyond the to-do list.

Retention isn't just about compensation and perks—it's about connection.

Let’s build workplaces where people don’t just clock in and out, but feel truly a part of something.

Gallup. (2022). State of the American Workplace Report. Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236441/state-american-workplace-report-2017.aspx
Edmondson, A. (2019). The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth. Wiley.
BetterUp. (2022). The Value of Belonging at Work. Retrieved from https://www.betterup.com/resources/blog/workplace-belonging

05/24/2025

♥️💙Wishing you a safe and wonderful Memorial Day and weekend. 💙❤️

05/23/2025

Wishing Empira's Executive Director a speedy recovery. Consortium wasn't the same without you, but we are holding down the fort and moving our work!
Take care of yourself, get well and hurry back to work! We miss you!