Senior Success Story
"At Franciscan Health Community, we see our role as caring for and supporting the older adult, providing a quality living experience, so they can enjoy the most engaging and fulfilling life possible.”
Joe Stanislav, CEO
Living Fully, Living Well
The community room at Riverview Highlands is frequently alive with seniors occupying a circle of chairs during morning exercise class. “Take a deep breath and relax our minds,” instructs Lauretta Taggert who leads the group. “We’re strong in the Lord and we feel his power and might,” she says, eyes closed. “I’m young, strong and healthy. I radiate love. I give thanks to you God, and thank you for this new day.”
Lauretta is 93-years-old, and not showing any signs of slowing down. She enjoys a vital life, living as fully as possible regardless of the inevitable aches and pains that come with advanced age. “I’ve always kept busy. I’ve been around the world, traveled on three cruises, visited all 50 states,” she says with enthusiasm. “I retired at age 67 but then worked part-time until I was 81,” she adds with a laugh.
Lauretta, who has embraced regular exercise since she was a young mother, is now reaping the rewards. She looks at least 20 years younger than her chronological age, and has the energy level of someone half her age. “Exercise has always helped me stay healthy so I can keep going.” She’s outlived her husband and four sisters, attributing her good health to the wellness lifestyle and good genes. “I never eat any junk, and neither did my family. My 72-year-old son can run up three flights of stairs and not be out of breath,” she says proudly.
Like so many members of her generation, Lauretta enjoyed a rural lifestyle in the early 20th century. She grew up on a farm near Argyle, Minnesota 360 miles north of the Twin Cities. Life was hard. Her mother died at age 28 in the 1918 influenza epidemic. “There were no sons, so the girls were raised like boys,” she explains. “We shucked corn and milked the cows and did other things around the farm..”
Her grandparents, who lived nearby in a log cabin, had 17 children, but not all of them survived childhood. In time, life brought the family to the Twin Cities. Lauretta, from a family of all girls, raised three sons.
In 1997 when her home was becoming too much to maintain, she discovered Franciscan Health Community. “I love living at Riverview. Its quiet and everyone is so nice. I’m healthy, and I keep busy.” Indeed. Lauretta volunteers at funerals held at Lumen Christi Catholic Church, she leads the exercises classes at Riverview three times a week, and assists with bingo at St. Mary’s Home across the street. Lauretta visited Brazil last year and already is thinking about her next adventure.
And, of course, there are the frequent visits with family and friends. “I just keep going, and keep my body and mind active. My philosophy is moderation, attitude and gratitude. We’re stewards of our bodies and should treat them well. Don’t judge, and treat others like you want to be treated.” It’s Lauretta’s healthy prescription for vital living, administered in abundant doses daily.
Vital Living
With strong faith and a positive attitude, Lauretta chooses to focus not on what’s wrong, but what’s right. It is an attitude of vital living, living as fully as possible despite any infirmities; keeping individual talents, dreams and goals at the forefront of living.
“Many older people spend much of their time addressing physical deficits, worrying about their problems. We are more than our problems,” says Helen Kivnick, Ph.D., a University of Minnesota professor of social work who is an expert on aging and vital living. “Let’s pay attention to a person’s strengths, interests and goals, and figure out ways to support those,” she adds. “As a society, we need to teach people to think a bit differently about aging and the care we provide seniors. We can live fully and adapt to the inevitable declines that aging brings,” she adds.
Franciscan Health Community CEO Joe Stanislav agrees. “It’s about living fully, surrounded by faith, family and friends, rather than succumbing to challenges and merely enduring life,” he says. “Elders have a great amount of leisure time and all of this wonderful life experience to share. At Franciscan Health Community, we see our role as caring for and supporting the older adult, providing a quality living experience, so they can enjoy the most engaging and fulfilling life possible.”