Wellness
Our comprehensive SilverAdvantage program is uniquely designed to offer a variety of choices for residents, enhancing their quality of life.
We understand the importance of maintaining health and wellbeing, which is why we provide a range of programming in physical fitness, arts, entertainment, spiritual growth and support. Explore, create, and renew your sense of purpose with activities focused on body, mind and spirit.
Our personal trainers and state-of-the-art wellness center focus on your physical, emotional, and nutritional needs. In addition, we partner with our occupational, speech, and physical therapists to enhance your overall wellbeing.
State-of-the-Art Wellness Equipment
NuStep
Treadmills
TechnoGym Leg Press
- CyberCycle
- Recumbent Bike
Low Row
Chest Press
- Kinesis
Vertical Traction
- Leg Curl machines
Weekly Wellness Classes
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00am – Arthritis Video (45 minutes)
10:00am – Balance 10:30-10:45am – Meditation (15 minutes) 2:00pm – Seated Volleyball |
9:00am – Seated Dance
9:30-9:45am – Meditation (15 minutes) 10:00am – Walking Group 2:00pm – Darts and Putt Putt Golf 3:00pm – BeFit |
9:00am – Arthritis Video (45 minutes)
10:00am – Chair Yoga 10:30-10:45am – Meditation (15 minutes) 2:30pm – Cardio Drumming |
9:o0am – Aerobics
9:30-9:45am – Meditation (15 minutes) 10:00am- Walking Group 2:00pm – Festive Fitness Fun 3:00pm – BeFit |
9:00am – Arthritis Video (45 minutes)
10:00am – Balance 10:30-10:45am – Meditation (15 minutes) |
Wellness Team
Erin Moynihan
Director of Wellness
Erin Moynihan
Director of Wellness
A little about your job…
If there were such a thing as “most fun position” at a company, I would raise my hand and say “YES! Wellness!” Others may disagree, but I can truly say I love my job. As the Director of Wellness, I manage the fitness center, teach exercise classes, work with personal training clients, and give daily motivational tools to our staff and residents. Wellness to me means constantly striving towards a happy and healthy Mind, Body, and Spirit.
What sparked your desire to work in a senior living community?
As a teen, my very first job was caretaking for an elderly neighbor. I would cook, clean, give personal cares, and provide companionship. My love for working with seniors continued, and after four years of service in the U.S. Navy, I started my first position as an activity assistant in a memory care community. My career has led me in many directions including many roles in professional activity recreation with seniors, owner of a home daycare, Therapeutic Yoga instructor, Health and Fitness instructor, Aquatic Therapy instructor, Swim School owner, and mother of three amazing children!
Did you go through any special training or education that helps with your current role?
I’ve been working with seniors for 6+ years in various roles and settings. I have my Bachelor’s of Art in Exercise Physiology, Master’s of Science in Sports Management, certified through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) as a Certified Exercise Physiologist, and have my Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification through the American Heart Association. In addition to my schooling and certifications, I am experienced in most modes of exercise including arthritis, balance, dance, aerobics, strength and conditioning, stretching, Tai Ji Quan and many more.
What makes your community stand out from the competition?
I moved to Minnesota one year ago, from Florida, after having to permanently shut down my swim school due to the pandemic. Since moving here, I have worked at four other communities, as an Activity Director. Each one fell drastically short on the care and treatment of their residents. Walking into the doors of the Village Shores was the best “breathe of fresh air” I had experienced in over a year. Every day is a joyful new adventure with my coworkers who are each kind, smart, and friendly, and I am full of gratitude for their presence.
More About Erin…
What is your favorite movie?
I am a geek for anything fantasy or SciFi…I have seen each Harry Potter movie at least ten times!
What is your favorite book?
Too many great books to pick just one, but one book that changed my life is “Ishmael” by Daniel Quinn
Do you have any pets?
Two cats (Nacho and Cowboy) and a very naughty mini wiener dog (ChaCha)
Tell us one thing about yourself that would surprise our residents.
I have lived in 36 different homes growing up.
Megan VanDerBeek
Wellness Coordinator
Megan VanDerBeek
Wellness Coordinator
What sparked your desire to work in a senior living community?
I wanted to work in a senior living community because I had worked part-time at a different community center and had loved it! All of the residents were so welcoming and fun to work with, that I knew I would love to find a full-time position at a senior living community. All the residents had such great stories to share and wanted to learn as much as they could from you!
Did you go through any special training or education that helps with your current role?
Besides my degree in Health and Wellness, I recently received my personal training certification through ACE. This has helped me to become more knowledgeable about the best ways to work towards someone’s goal, and how I can best help them.
What is the best part of your workday?
I love being able to teach group exercise classes. They choose the music they want to listen to and that half an hour goes by so fast. We all have a great time working on improving our bodies, and if we make a mistake along the way, we laugh it off and try it again.
What is your favorite resident memory or story?
I have so many fond memories of the residents and all the hard work we do together, but I think one of my favorite memories is when we play music in The Club and residents let us know what they want to hear when they are working out. One couple loved Frank Sinatra, so we would put it on for them, and while waiting for their machine they would dance in the middle of the room. It was also so sweet to see how much fun they were having and how much love they had for each other after all these years.
What makes your community stand out from your competition.
I believe the big thing that makes us stand out from other communities is the staff. All of our staff have such a wide range of abilities that I haven’t seen at other locations. Our Activities Director and Coordinator have such a vast knowledge and skill set that they bring to the residents through history lectures, music, trivia, and so much more. The Wellness team focuses on more than just fitness, by providing wellness programs focused on engaging residents to try new foods, inform them about varying health topics and so much more. There is never a dull moment here and you can always find something that you like to do here.
More About Megan…
I am a huge fan of baking. Every year after Thanksgiving my family and some friends get together and bake a bunch of cookies. When I say a bunch, I mean some years we have gotten to 8,000 cookies which we give out to other friends and family and use as a fundraiser for some different events. We always had such a great time baking together that I continue to do it year-round. I am hoping to start practicing bread making here shortly.
Favorite Movie?
I am a huge fan of the Jurassic Park trilogy and every time I watch it, I feel like I did when I watched it for the first time.
Favorite Book?
One of my favorite book series to read is the Silence of the Lambs trilogy.
Favorite Sports Team(s)?
I don’t have a favorite sports team; I just enjoy watching whatever’s on at the time.
Favorite bands?
I love listening to classic rock so anything along that line is on my playlist, but I am always happy to listen to some Abba.
Top travel destination on your list?
My top travel destination is Ireland. I went on a short trip there with a group but would love to go back and explore on my own and make it last a lot longer. A week to see everything there was just not enough.
Do you have any pets?
I do not have any pets, sadly I am allergic, so I hang out with my friends’ animals when I want to hold a puppy or cat.
If you could have a superpower – which one would you choose and why?
I have always liked the ability to control the elements. I think it’s super awesome to be able to use what’s around you if you were to need it.
Tell us one thing about yourself that would surprise your residents?
When I visited Scotland, I scaled down a castle wall and would love to do it again.
Brad Ray
Director of Programs
Brad Ray
Director of Programs
What sparked your desire to work in a senior living community?
“For years, my mother was the Director of Senior Volunteers in the small Minnesota community that I grew up in. I would often accompany her on various outings and community events that she organized. I enjoyed spending time with the senior citizens of my community. Being a young and budding history buff, I especially enjoyed their stories of rural farm life years ago. In addition to this, I had an especially close relationship to my paternal grandparents. Through them I learned the value of communication with older adults. The amount of personal growth I gained through them helped me become the passionate Director of Programs that I am today.”
Did you go through any special training or education that helps with your current role?
“I have a B.S. in English Literature from Moorhead State University”, as well as over 20 years of experience in the field of Therapeutic Recreation. In addition to this, I am an accomplished musician. I am a guitarist and singer with over 3000 songs in my memorized repertoire. I am blessed to be able to use my musical gifts to enhance the lives of the seniors living at Village Shores.
What is the best part of your workday?
I love making connections with people. In addition, I love to connect people! I enjoy finding out the interests of our new and incoming residents and pairing them with like-minded peers. Village Shores is a very welcoming community. The connections made by the residents with each other, as well the bonds formed between residents and staff members is one of the wonderfully positive aspects of living and working at Village Shores.
What is your favorite resident memory or story?
In my late 20’s when I was working at as Activity Assistant at a nursing facility in North Minneapolis, my supervisor let me know that I would be learning a new skill. “Brad, today you are going to learn how to give manicures.” I replied with a hearty laugh, “You’ve GOT to be kidding me! Me, give manicures to these sweet ladies? I don’t have that kind of artistic ability!” Well, lo and behold, here I am today with a skill that makes a great number of our ladies quite happy! They line-up sometimes a dozen deep for one of “Brad’s complimentary cut, file, and polish” jobs.” It’s just another one of the many beneficial symbiotic perks that are hallmarks of Village Shores.
What sets your programming apart from the competition?
Our community stands our from the competition mainly because of it’s welcoming atmosphere and the way the community feels. Nearly all newcomers note how welcoming Village Shores feels compared to other places they have lived. Many of our long-time residents make sure to go out of their way to make the newcomers feel at home. It is one of the many points of difference offered by Village Shores.
More About Brad…
I was born to a pair of young hippie college students in Minneapolis in 1970. After they completed school, we moved to the Iron Range where my folks worked until I was the age of 8. We then moved to a small farmhouse in western Minnesota near the town that my father’s hometown of Barrett. Growing up with numerous cousins, aunts and uncles, and my paternal grandparents really gave me a sense of self and confidence. My father’s side was quite musically inclined, as he and his brothers played in a local country-rock band at taverns and bars all around the area. Being exposed to music, and eventually community theatre helped cement my early dream of being a performer. This life-long passion has helped me develop as a confident leader and orator. These are skills that I bring to Village Shores in my role of Director of Programs. My high school years were filled with sports, music, and theatre. I eventually went to Moorhead State University where I graduated with a degree in English Literature, as well as minors in Speech and Theatre. I spent a few years traipsing around the western United States snowboarding and following the Grateful Dead rock and roll band. I eventually met the woman of my dreams and settled down in the Twin Cities. It was in 199 when I first entered the field of Senior Living as an Activity Assistant at a nursing home in North Minneapolis. Today, I am married with two daughters, aged 28 and 11. I play in numerous music projects throughout the Twin Cities. MY hobbies are skiing, cooking, and playing disc golf. I recently spent 7 months at home recovering from cancer, in which by all accounts, I was victorious in my recovery! I look forward to many more years serving the residents at Village Shores. I consider it a gift to be able to offer my talents to this wonderful place.
Favorite Movie?
I enjoy historical drama, horror films, quirky independent films, and WWII epics. However, none can compare to the film that won an Oscar for the best film of 1970. “Harold and Maude” holds a special place in my heart. A quirky intergenerational love story featuring a soundtrack of songs by Cat Stevens, this film holds up 51 years after it’s creation.
Favorite Book?
I enjoy reading non-fiction WWI and Vietnam war era books. “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a touching, disturbing, and sentimental portrait of the soldiers of the Vietnam War and gives a detailed vision of the burdens they carried throughout the war and throughout their lives, both physically and emotionally.
Favorite Sports Team(s)?
I have bled purple and gold since I was a youngster. Skol Vikings
Favorite bands?
Being a musician, I have had many influences. However, if I were to list my favorite bands, I would have to say the Grateful Dead, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, the Rolling granites, Pink Floyd, Widespread Panic, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and the venerable John Prine.
Top travel destination on your list?
I yearn to return to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico where my wife and I had a glorious adventure years ago exploring Mayan Ruins, swimming in deep cenotes, and enjoying delicious and fresh cuisine. Viva La Mexico!
Do you have any pets?
We have three cats. Jaycee, Dizzy, and Kiki. They are spoiled rotten and think they run the show.
If you could have a superpower – which one would you choose and why?
I always wished I could fly. My dad was a pilot, and we flew a small plane while I was growing up. I miss the perception of the world when looking at it from 3000 feet above it.
Tell us one thing about yourself that would surprise your residents?
It may come as a surprise to many residents that for all my life up until fairly recently, I was without siblings. Four years ago, our family was surprised to find that I had a half-brother that nobody knew about! Douglas was adopted at birth 56 years ago, and until through ancestory.com, he discovered his biological parents, the father being my dad! Much to my dad’s surprise at the time, our family has embraced Doug and his partner Robby. Doug and Robby live in Memphis where he teaches English at a local community college. He has hosted my family, including my parents, on multiple trips to visit that lovely southern city. In addition, they have embraced Doug’s Minnesota roots, and have journeyed northwards a few times as well. They even attended a Ray family reunion in Kentucky! In the words of the venerable Jerry Garcia, the guitarist for the Grateful Dead, “goes to show, you don’t ever know.”
Wellness Photo Album
