Giving Compass' Take:

• Jackie Crosby, writing for the Star Tribune, interviews Shelley Kendrick, the new chief executive of Ecumen, a senior housing and services provider. 

• Kendrick says that Ecumen is going to bring new solutions to the aging population beyond just the nursing home. How can philanthropic partnerships help advance this mission? 

• Grantmakers in Aging provides a comprehensive guide to funding in aging. 

Shelley Kendrick has spent nearly three decades working in health care and senior services. On Monday, the native of Flint, Mich., will take over as chief executive of Ecumen, a $147 million provider of senior housing and services.

The Shoreview-based nonprofit serves about 15,000 people each year in independent living, assisted living and skilled-nursing locations as well as in private homes.

The company also provides hospice care, a fast-growing part of the business. Although the bulk of operations are in Minnesota, Ecumen provides training and operational support to senior-housing communities in Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan, Idaho, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee. Kendrick has been with Ecumen since 2012, focused on the housing and operations.

How are you feeling as you step into this new role? 

A: Extremely excited. It’s a time of change and innovation in our industry with a growing older adult population. At Ecumen, we have a legacy of service dating back to 1862 serving immigrant women and children. That service has continued to evolve over the years and will continue to evolve.

Q: What are some of the challenges ahead?
A: Our goal now and into the future is to empower people to live in ways that matter most to them. That’s going to mean something different to the next generation. In the past, the only solution was the nursing home. We have a proven record over the years of driving innovation and anticipating changes.

Read the full article about helping the aging population by Jackie Crosby at StarTribune