Mother of Mercy continues to look for new ways to better serve the Albany area
“Vibrant senior living graced by the Spirit of care.” The tagline says it all.
Mother of Mercy Senior Living in Albany is a picturesque campus, located next to the Albany Golf Club and the Seven Dolors Catholic Church. The campus will be adding a new building this year, adding apartments for memory care and enhanced assisted living. Contributed photo
Mother of Mercy Senior Living in Albany is bustling with activity, inside and out. Inside, residents are living their lives, visiting with family and friends, old and new. They’re going to church and any number of other activities. The staff are caring for residents and providing the extra touches which make Mother of Mercy, M.O.M., a wonderful place to live. Outside, the construction continues as M.O.M. prepares to open its new building in late September or October, which will be accomodate an additional 24 residents.
“This is an amazing place,” said Jason Bergmann, marketing manager. M.O.M. offers a range of services, from short-term rehabilitation following a hospitalization, to affordable apartments, assisted living, enhanced assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care. “It’s unique to have this facility in Albany,” he added. M.O.M. is located in the heart of Albany, next to Seven Dolors Catholic Church, and is within walking distance to downtown and the Lake Wobegon Trail. Large windows in dining areas, lounges and apartments offer views of the beautiful golf course adjacent to the facility.
People who need rehabilitation following surgery, illness or injury have a great option in Central Minnesota at Rapid Recovery Suites at M.O.M.
“We say, ‘Come in, get better, go home,’” said Bergmann. “Our Rapid Recovery has a good reputation and is becoming well-known in the area.”
M.O.M. has the specialists, the equipment and the advanced technology necessary for recovery, and the support needed for the transition back to life at home. Family can visit without the long drive and traffic hassles they may encounter driving to bigger towns, like St. Cloud. Bergmann has seen people leave with tears in their eyes.
“I believe it’s due to the extra attention and good, loving care they received,” he said.
When the new building opens in the fall, there will be 12 additional apartments for memory care.
The Mother of Mercy campus gives residents an opportunity to be as active as they like. A few of those activities (pictured above) include bowling. Contributed photo
“We will have the capacity to care for more than 50 people with memory care,” Bergmann said. The open floor plan with apartments on the outside and communal dining and activity areas on the inside helps develop a strong community. There will be some apartments available for a husband or a wife to live with their spouse with dementia. Plans have been made for a memory garden to be completed. It will be a beautiful, safe place for memory care residents to sit outdoors and enjoy Minnesota summers.
The other 12 apartments in the new building will be for enhanced assisted living, which offers additional assistance to residents who require more than assisted living services, a step between assisted living and nursing home.
Bergmann is excited about next fall’s opening of the day care center, for up to 50 children. There will be opportunities for intergenerational programs and activities to bring together the children and their “grand friends” to share experiences like story time, music, art or a snack. These activities improve the quality of life for seniors, and the children benefit from being around other caring adults.
The Mother of Mercy campus gives residents an opportunity to be as active as they like. A few of those activities (pictured above) include a petting zoo. Contributed photo
“We’ve been following the needs of our community,” said Bergmann, “and we’re very committed to our seniors here and throughout Central Minnesota.” That commitment is visible at M.O.M. When they made renovations to their chapel two years ago, they installed new sound system technology with a “hearing loop” that works wirelessly so sound can be broadcast directly through a hearing aid. There are no headsets to wear. There’s no embarrassment or frustration or chance of losing a hearing aid. Worshippers can hear every word of the service. M.O.M. is the only facility outside of the Twin Cities metro area to offer this technology. There is a daily Catholic mass held in the chapel and a weekly Lutheran service. Movies are shown there as well, because of the sound technology.
The activity schedule at M.O.M. is filled with opportunities to socialize, learn, listen to live music, drink coffee, tea and the occasional social hour, play cards/ games, watch a DVD on the big screen TV and so on. There are special events almost monthly–fishing trips, parades, music in the park, petting zoo visits.
The Mother of Mercy campus is growing again this year. The new facility will have 12 apartments for memory care, giving M.O.M. more than 50 memory care apartments. In addition, the new building will have apartments for a husband or wife to live with a spouse with dementia, as well as 12 more apartments for enhanced assisted living. The project is expected to be complete by this fall. Contributed rendering
On May 17, M.O.M will help host the Senior Prom, when residents can dance to live music and eat hors d’oeuvres. Another popular event is the Senior Golf Tour, held in the fall, when the maple trees are in full glory. Residents can ride in a golf cart for a tour of the course and take in the picturesque views.
Therapist Suzy Volden, visits once a month and works one-on-one with some residents. Volden uses singing, painting, storytelling and movement to help individuals with brain disorders achieve whole brain synchronization and sustained focus.
M.O.M. also has 65 affordable, income-based apartments for people, ages 62 and over, who live independently. “We saw the need in our community,” explained Bergmann, “and this is a way we can serve low-income people in a beautiful, dignified way. Affordability was our priority.”
One benefit of M.O.M.’s location in a smaller community may not be obvious.
“Our caregivers are largely from this area, and everyone knows everyone else,” said Bergmann. “Some young people are caring for their grandparents and their grandparents’ friends. We’re known for taking care of each other, and we’re getting noticed for our quality care and our values.”
M.O.M. has very low staff turnover, and there are employees who have worked there for decades.
Mother of Mercy Senior Living is located at 230 Church Avenue, Albany, MN 56307.
For more information or to set up a tour, contact Jason Bergmann at 320-845-2195 or jbergmann@momcampus.org.