Residents are learning about Ruggero Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci" with help from the Opera Connections program of the Minnesota Opera. This week, they dug into Leoncavallo's life and the background of Pagliacci in anticipation of the production they'll be attending later this spring.
04/20/2026
Volunteers keep Lyngblomsten running smoothly! We show our appreciation for them every day, but this week (April 20-24) is special as we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week. One of our annual traditions is having each Lyngblomsten department area create a thank-you poster. The theme for this year’s campus celebration is “The Power of We." Take a look at some of the beautiful creations that reflect the theme and please join us in thanking our volunteers for everything they do!
04/18/2026
The Gathering is a group respite program that provides four hours of meaningful activities and interactions for adults experiencing early- to mid-stage memory loss. YOU can make a difference in their lives and the lives of their family caregivers by serving as a volunteer with The Gathering! To learn more, visit our website at https://bit.ly/4cwzl86 or contact Volunteer Services at (651) 632-5499 or volunteer@lyngblomsten.org.
04/17/2026
04/16/2026
Be sure to peruse the latest edition of the "Park Bugle"! A writer from the paper recently profiled The Gathering, Lyngblomsten's group respite program for older adults with early- to mid-stage memory loss, visiting with Rachel Boucher, The Gathering Program Coordinator, about her work. We're grateful to all the employees and volunteers who have helped make this life-changing program available to the community for 25+ years.
The Gathering is a group enrichment program offered at Lyngblomsten Care Center for individuals with early- to mid-stage memory loss. Now in its 26th year, The Gathering provides social engagement...
04/16/2026
Residents of The Heritage at Lyngblomsten gathered earlier this week to share their talents at an open mic event. They snacked on popcorn while enjoying the performances of their neighbors, including poetry reading and a lively harmonica singalong.
04/15/2026
The Minnesota Board on Aging and Department of Human Services want to hear from people ages 60 and older to help improve a statewide survey on the experiences, needs, and daily lives of older Minnesotans. They need help to test the survey to make sure it is clear and easy to answer.
To be eligible to test the survey, you must be aged 60 or older and live in Minnesota. Your participation is completely voluntary, and all information will be kept private.
If you help test the survey, you will talk with someone on the survey team by phone or video for about 1 hour and review some survey questions and give feedback about the questions.
If you are interested, please complete the short form at the link below by April 17, 2026. A small number of people who fill out the form will be selected to take part in the survey test, and they will be contacted directly.
If you have any questions, please call toll-free (833) 508-6398 or email cas@vitalresearch.com.
04/11/2026
Participants in The Gathering, Lyngblomsten's group respite program for older adults with early- to -midstage memory loss, celebrated Earth Month last week. A major highlight was the science presentation, “Our Changing Planet,” where they learned about the movement of tectonic plates, volcanoes, and earthquakes—complete with a hands-on experiment making volcanoes using baking soda, dish soap, and vinegar.
Participants reminisced about favorite seasons, animals, landscapes, and places they’ve visited and played map trivia. Art projects for the week gave them a chance to connect with nature and think about small ways to make a difference, including creating nature mandalas, coloring terra-cotta pots and planting succulents, and making polymer clay butterfly feeders.
04/09/2026
Residents of the Lyngblomsten Apartments marked spring's arrival with a singalong celebrating the colors of the season this afternoon. Many thanks to local musician Sandy Waterman for providing accompaniment on the piano!
04/09/2026
Earlier today, President & CEO Jeff Heinecke hosted more than 100 Lyngblomsten supporters at the President’s Luncheon. The annual gathering recognizes and thanks those who have made a significant financial contribution to the Lyngblomsten Foundation in the previous year and/or who have arranged for a future gift through their estate plan. Together, these supporters help make possible a variety of programs and services that enhance the quality of life for older adults.
As part of the luncheon, Charles "Chuck" Norton was presented with the Anna Quale Fergstad Award for Distinguished Service in recognition of his contributions to Lyngblomsten and the broader community. His curious nature, quiet leadership, and desire to serve God have undergirded his involvement with Lyngblomsten for more than 20 years.
A generous donor, Chuck has also volunteered, represented his church as a delegate, and served on the Lyngblomsten Board of Directors twice: from 2009–2015, during which he held the role of Chair and served as leader of the CEO Search Committee, and again from 2017–2020. His legacy is one of thoughtful leadership and generosity, inspiring others to serve with the same depth of purpose.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lyngblomsten posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
In 1903, Anna Quale Fergstad gathered together several Norwegian women to form a literary club. Near the end of that year, Mrs. Fergstad expressed her desire for the club to take up charitable work of some sort. Thinking of a vivid picture of the snug little huts along the coast of Norway that sheltered the wives of fishermen who had lost their lives at sea, she realized that, in America, there were many older people without family or friends to care for them. They were in need of some shelter and care. How splendid and useful an undertaking for their club to give at least a few of these deserving kinsfolk a home in which they could spend their last years.
The idea took form on October 19, 1903, when the group formed an organization, the Lyngblomsten Society, dedicated toward that goal. Mrs. Fergstad was named president. The group selected the name Lyngblomsten to commemorate the national flower of Norway, the lyng.
The organization began to grow by establishing "branches" around the Upper Midwest. On February 17, 1906, they incorporated and began fund raising. In 1911 they bought land midway between Minneapolis and St. Paul. In 1912 construction of the home began at Midway Parkway and Pascal Avenue. The home opened in December of that year with 34 older Norwegians moving in.
The home operated on the concept of residents helping with chores as they were able, and receiving help at the level each person needed—very similar to how our continuing care campus works today. It is important to note, then, that Lyngblomsten did not begin as a “nursing home,” but rather as “assisted living”—a term that didn’t exist until decades later.
The Winds of Change
For several decades, the women, their daughters and granddaughters ran the Lyngblomsten Home through the sponsorship of member branches. But as women entered the workforce and had less time for volunteer work, along with increasing government regulations for board and care being established, it was no longer a feasible method.
In 1960, Lyngblomsten was reincorporated and its grounds and assets were gifted to what was then the St. Paul Conference of the American Lutheran Church. The members of the Board of Directors began coming from the churches (instead of from the branches) and staff were hired to handle the day-to-day operations. The branches were transitioned into the new Lyngblomsten Auxiliary.
Today Lyngblomsten is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and partnered in ministry with Twin Cities-area Christian churches. Lyngblomsten welcomes older adults of all faiths and nationalities.
Growing & Changing
In the early 1960s, the skilled nursing facility was added (a requirement given by the churches as a condition of forming the partnership). The next decade saw the addition of the Lyngblomsten Apartments and the Lyngblomsten Community Senior Center (known today as 2nd Half with Lyngblomsten). With heavy hearts, in 1993 the original building that housed the Lyngblomsten Home for the Aged was demolished to make way for the Heritage Apartments (market rate).
In the 1990s Lyngblomsten began developing community outreach programs (Care Team Ministry and Parish Nurse Ministry, specifically), known today as Home- and Community-Based Services. Work also began on adopting the Swedish model of care, known as “service houses,” a concept that would be modified a decade later, ushering in the neighborhood model of person-centered care. Superior Street Cottages located off campus opened in 1999.
In the early 2000s, major fundraising made way for the massive remodeling of the care center, readying the facility for “neighborhoods” and person-centered care. The shift in how care was provided took several years to fully integrate, but as an early adopter and embracing our call to innovation, Lyngblomsten soon became known as a leader in the Culture Change movement—the terminology used to describe a new era in skilled nursing care.
In 2005, our first transitional care unit opened, serving those who needed a place to recuperate between hospital and home. On the community side, our outreach programs were expanded to help support the growing number of older adults, including the launch of The Gathering. In 2006, with much fanfare, Lyngblomsten celebrated the 100th anniversary of its incorporation.
