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The center’s mission is to help community members who are caring for an aging family member or friend—to get those caregivers resources that make the work easier or, at least, more sustainable.
Normandale Center for Healing and Wholeness is a nonprofit that was founded in 1998 as a partnership between Normandale Lutheran Church, Lutheran Social Services, Fairview Health Services and Thrivent Financial. The church continues to offer significant financial support to the center, along with the city of Edina—which has been in partnership with the center since 2005. The center’s mission is to help community members who are caring for an aging family member or friend—to get those caregivers resources that make the work easier or, at least, more sustainable.
Executive director Jennifer Monroe says the center’s work is about helping seniors age at home. When elders who are challenged by any type of illness can stay in their own homes, they maintain a sense of independence and dignity that contributes to overall wellbeing. To make that happen, seniors need homecare and, often as not, that care typically falls to a family member who may have no idea where to turn for help. Without active support, caregiver burnout is common problem that may undermine the whole family.
“The aging process has many difficult challenges that take a toll on caregivers. This has gotten even harder as the physical distance between family and aging parents has increased,” Monroe says. “Normandale Center is a trusted, socially responsible community resource that provides support to connect caregivers to resources.”
Edina’s population is older than the Twin Cities average. Supporting families as they try to care for their aging relatives is an issue in which this community has an interest.
“We have been a trusted presence for over 20 years in Edina working to support individuals and families throughout their caregiving journey,” Monroe says. “Our professional, compassionate staff provide supportive services, find resources and facilitate conversations when distance, technology, time, money, and education can be a barrier to healthy aging.”
Monroe says that The Normandale Center works with families to determine what kind of help is needed. An initial evaluation focuses on how the caregiver can stay healthy.
“Our first step is to meet one-on-one to help identify individual needs and then to establish a plan, a core component of which is self-care [for the caregiver],” she says. “We have been steadily and quietly partnering with individuals and their families in the community to help them navigate the twists and turns of aging since 1998.”
Volunteers are an important part of the fabric of the center. If you’d be interested in becoming involved, contact volunteer coordinator Cheryl Nickelson at cnickleson@normandalecenter.org. Community donations and financial support are also important to the center’s mission. To make a donation you can go to normandalecenter.org/donations-support where you will find information about online giving, employer matching and workplace giving and other ways you can finically support the center’s mission.
All regular services from Normandale Center for Healing and Wholeness are being offered virtually so that caregivers can continue to stay connected.
To schedule a virtual visit email info@normandalecenter.org or call 952.929.1698.
Normandale Center for Healing and Wholeness
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