Meg Jones’ longtime volunteerism at Knute Nelson began with providing manicures to residents.
“My friend invited me to do manicures for the residents and they were very excited about getting their nails done, which was quite a rewarding experience,”

“When we were planning Grand Arbor, it was our vision to serve aging adults,” said Mark Anderson, President and CEO, Knute Nelson. “It was a big dream, and the whole community came together to help us make it a reality.”

Knute Nelson knows how hard Veterans work for America, and this Veterans Day, we salute all American service members, both past and present.

Join us for a FREE BBQ-style lunch at the Knute Nelson Annual Community Picnic!

This year’s Community Picnic will be held on Tuesday, August 10 at the Care Center campus (420 12th Avenue East, Alexandria).

Knute Nelson invites the Park Rapids community to a free outdoor picnic at their Crystal Brook Senior Living campus (1006 Crocus Hill Street) on Thursday, August 26th from 11:30 am to 1 pm. 

Knute Nelson invites the Park Rapids community to a free outdoor picnic at their Crystal Brook Senior Living campus (1006 Crocus Hill Street) on Thursday, August 26th from 11:30 am to 1 pm.

Join us for a FREE BBQ-style lunch at the Knute Nelson Annual Community Picnic!

This year’s Community Picnic will be held on Tuesday, August 10 at the Care Center campus (420 12th Avenue East, Alexandria).

Knute Nelson strives to provide high quality care to veterans and their families. We do this through We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) in collaboration with the Department of

Thank you to everyone who attended the Knute Nelson Drive-Thru Annual Picnic!  It was such a joy for us to see so many smiling faces and share a delicious picnic lunch with you. We are pleased to share that we served a total of 553 picnic lunches—450 total at the Care Center, 53 at Nelson Gables, and 50 at Grand Arbor.

Knute Nelson invites the Park Rapids area to a drive-thru style picnic at their Crystal Brook Senior Living campus on Thursday, September 17th from 11:30 am to 1 pm or from 5 to 6 pm.

Knute Nelson has been nominated by readers of the Echo Press for 8 awards within the Best of the Lakes Area contest. Thank you to those who nominated us!

The Knute Nelson Annual Community Picnic will take place in a drive-thru format this year on Tuesday, August 25th from 11 am to 1 pm. Lunch is free but free will donations will be accepted.

Congratulations to the graduates from Knute Nelson’s 2019 Leadership Academy. The group of 15 individuals has spent the last nine months strengthening and developing their leadership skills.

Spend the holiday season enjoying time with family and friends at our beautiful Grand Arbor Theater. Each Friday from November 29th until Christmas, Grand Arbor by Knute Nelson will be featuring a FREE community movie night in their full-size movie theater – complete with coffee and cookies.

On Tuesday, August 6th Knute Nelson hosted their 14th annual Community Picnic at the Care Center. Everyone in the community and beyond was welcome. We were happy to serve over 1,000 people. Entertainment was provided by Erickson’s Petting Zoo and Two Old Guys.

Knute Nelson will host their annual Community Picnic and 70 year anniversary celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, at their campus at 420 12th Avenue East, Alexandria, Minn. The public is invited to attend the BBQ style lunch. There is no cost to attend; however, free will donations are appreciated.

Knute Nelson will be hosting the “Knute Nelson Garden Concerts” Wednesdays from May 29th to August 28th. These concerts will take place in the Healing Gardens from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Knute Nelson is proud to announce the achievement of Gold Level status with the Minnesota Department of Health for antibiotic stewardship at their Care Center campus.

Knute Nelson invites the community to attend up to three public art exhibits this spring. The art displayed was created by Alexandria school children and Knute Nelson residents during joint canvas painting workshops.

Knute Nelson was pleased to participate in the Douglas County Historial Society (DCHS) Hotdish Bake-Off event! Thanks to a recipe from our Nelson Gables campus, attendees voted us as the first place hotdish winner

Congratulations to the graduates from Knute Nelson’s 2018 Leadership Academy. This group of 15 individuals has spent the last nine months strengthening and developing their leadership skills.

Knute Nelson Foundation has received a $4,630 grant from Lake Region Art Council (LRAC). The purpose of the grant is to provide an opportunity to engage Knute Nelson residents and Alexandria school children through a canvas painting workshop.

Grand Arbor by Knute Nelson invites the community to a free holiday movie series that will take place each Friday in December up until Christmas. The movies will take place at 4 p.m. and will be located in the Grand Arbor Theater.

Join us in your Boots ‘n Bling…
For an evening to raise funds for resident enriching programs and activities. This event is led by Knute Nelson volunteers, the Friends of Knute.

Join us for the grand opening celebration of YMCA Child Care at Knute Nelson!

Knute Nelson is excited to welcome YMCA Child Care services to our Care Center campus. The YMCA will serve approximately 50 children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

On April 20, 1948, the former home of the late Senator and Governor, Knute Nelson, was opened as a nursing home for elderly area residents.

Roger Schultz, a retired college professor wants to “give back” and has become one of Knute Nelson’s newest volunteers. Roger brings a great amount of fun and joy to the lives of our residents. We are so fortunate to have Roger as a volunteer.  Thank you, Roger!

Knute Nelson is celebrating 70 years of service to the Alexandria community and will be expressing their gratitude for the community’s ongoing support by offering a free educational series in partnership with the Douglas County Historical Society (DCHS).

The 12th annual Knute Nelson Foundation Golf Classic will take place on Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at Geneva Golf Club. A significant portion of all proceeds will be directed to the Knute Nelson Chapel and Chapel Lounge renovation. Giving to the Knute Nelson Foundation ensures that we can continue to offer those we serve the highest quality care, while pursuing innovative new ways to meet their ever-changing needs.

Join us at Nelson Gables to celebrate the first day of Spring! Spring is a season of change. You may be exploring a change in your life or the life of a loved one, with the possibility of a move to a senior living community. An important part of making this choice is exploring the many wonderful options available to you. On Tuesday, March 20th, Nelson Gables will be hosting a free event to allow you the opportunity to explore our community.

Congratulations to our graduates from Knute Nelson’s 2017 Leadership Academy! Knute Nelson’s Leadership Academy was designed in 2014 to help strengthen and develop the leadership skills and capacities of leaders within Knute Nelson. This group of 13 individuals has spent the last nine months learning the ins and outs of being a great leader.

The Alexandria Area YMCA and Knute Nelson are joining forces to expand access to quality child care by proceeding with the development of an intergenerational child care center. The expansion of child care at the Knute Nelson site will be the second center that the Alexandria Area YMCA operates at its current location on Karl Drive. In a collaborative agreement, the Alexandria YMCA will operate the child care center using Knute Nelson’s Care Center building and campus to serve approximately 60 children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

We are humbled as we announce our 2017 “Best of the Lakes Area” awards. The “Best of the Lakes Area” is the Echo Press newspaper’s readers’ choice awards. Readers are encouraged to vote for their favorite businesses in the Alexandria area and the winners are determined by the highest number of votes. Grand Arbor was voted as the Lakes Area’s #1 Retirement Community, #1 Memory Care and #1 Assisted Living, and the Knute Nelson Care Center was voted as #1 Rehab, by Alexandria area residents.

Knute Nelson gathered staff and community members to celebrate the addition of Autumn Cottages (formerly Prairie Senior Cottages) into their family of care with a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 30, 2021.

Knute Nelson and the Knute Nelson Foundation have an incredible impact on the communities we serve, thanks to supporters like you.

Benevolence Care allows us to provide high-quality care and services to residents and patients who are unable to pay for the total cost of their care.

Knute Nelson is a proud recipient of a $800,000 Connected Communities for Healthy Aging pilot grant from UCare and LeadingAge MN Foundation.

Thank you for another incredible year together! You are willing and generous partners in walking alongside us as we live out our collective mission of enriching the lives of everyone we serve. Your support gives us the strength, resources, and passion to continue providing excellence in caring for older adults.

Roger Blank first got involved with Knute Nelson when he joined the Knute Nelson Corporate Board in 2005. He served on both the Corporate and Foundation Boards from 2005-2011. Roger chaired the Corporate Board from 2009-2011, during the time Grand Arbor was being built in Alexandria.

Roger Blank first got involved with Knute Nelson when he joined the Knute Nelson Corporate Board in 2005. He served on both the Corporate and Foundation Boards from 2005-2011. Roger chaired the Corporate Board from 2009-2011, during the time Grand Arbor was being built in Alexandria.

As a nonprofit community-based organization, Knute Nelson recognizes the value of community partnerships to achieve a common goal and mission. The power of partnership allows us to accomplish so much more with our community partners than on our own.

Relationships with our corporation and area churches help to strengthen our spiritual care program. Together, we serve as spiritual companions in the journey of life for those we serve.

In 2021, Knute Nelson volunteers again gave generously of their time and talent to help us further our mission of enriching lives

The term “financial advisor” can be intimidating. It probably brings up a lot of questions. What do financial advisors do? Who needs to hire a financial advisor? How do I meet financial advisors and choose one to work with? This article is going to walk you through answers to all of these questions.

Please join us from 1-4 pm on Friday, June 10th for a Community Open House to celebrate the Best of the Lakes Awards & 10-Year Anniversary of Grand Arbor!

Connect with us! Summer is here and Knute Nelson has a full schedule of community events including memorial dove releases, KN Golf Classic and our community picnics!

A new wellness and health-focused program that puts the patient at the center of everything we do and is tailored for rural areas. No matter what state of health a person is in, there are practices, procedures, and technologies that can be employed to improve that person’s health and increase their quality of life.

Through the years, the community’s needs have changed, and we have intentionally shifted the paradigm of our services to meet those needs. It prompted the addition of senior living communities, the expansion of our home-based services, and preventative offerings like wellness and outpatient therapy.

Knute Nelson is a top five finalist in three categories for the St. Cloud Times Best of the Best awards. We want to thank everyone who nominated us! Cast your vote each day July 18-31.

Thank you so much to all of those who golfed with us in the 16th Annual Knute Nelson Foundation Golf Classic! We hosted another sold-out tournament at the Geneva Golf Club in Alexandria.

Please join us for our annual Community Picnic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10th, at our Care Center campus at 420 12th Avenue East, Alexandria, MN. There is no cost for the BBQ-style lunch; however, free will donations are welcome and appreciated.

Knute Nelson is proud to sponsor Senior Day at the Douglas County Fair on Wednesday, August 17th.

Knute Nelson will host their annual Community Picnic from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, August 25th at their Crystal Brook Senior Living campus at 1006 Crocus Hill Street, Park Rapids. The public is invited to attend the free lunch with live entertainment. There is no cost to attend; however, free will donations are appreciated.

Knute Nelson has been nominated by readers of the Echo Press in 8 different categories within the Best of the Lakes Area contest. Thank you to those who nominated us!

Knute Nelson is proud to sponsor the 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in the communities of Alexandria, Brainerd, and St. Cloud.

We are honored to be voted as one of Minnesota’s Best in the state’s premier Readers’ Choice Award program.
This incredible recognition is a true testament to the care our team provides every day and to their commitment to our mission of enriching the lives of everyone we serve.

Knute Nelson’s Management and Consulting services support organizations who need additional help and services.

Knute Nelson Hospice is expanding to serve the Willmar community and surrounding area with hospice services out of their new location at 2800 1st Street South, Suite 231, Willmar, MN 56201.

Knute Nelson has begun a new management relationship with Glenwood Retirement Village (GRV) effective Monday, October 10th. They will support GRV through a variety of operational, financial and support roles.

Jerry and Joyce took their generosity and support one step further by making a legacy gift to the Knute Nelson Foundation. The Knute Nelson Legacy Society recognizes donors who have named the Foundation in their estate plans. The Legacy Society was created to honor those that have taken their commitment beyond the ordinary and have made planned arrangements to help sustain Knute Nelson’s mission of enriching lives far into the future.

We are honored to be voted Best in the Lakes Area in several categories by the readers of the Echo Press. The recognition we receive is a true testament to the care our team provides every day and their commitment to our mission of enriching the lives of everyone we serve.

One of the most unique and profound ways Greg Billberg has enhanced Knute Nelson’s mission is through his guidance around spiritual care programming. Learn more of why Greg has earned Knute Nelson’s 2022 Renaissance Award.

Howard Grafenstein is part of a large, dedicated, and generous group of Knute Nelson volunteers. He speaks very highly of his volunteer peers, and the many hours and talents they share with Knute Nelson residents. Learn more of why Howard has earned Knute Nelson’s 2022 Renaissance Award.

Knute Nelson Hospice Therapeutic Musicians, Jackson Burns and Sara Severson, have put together a collection of their favorite holiday music. We hope their musical talents combined with your favorite holiday songs put you into the Christmas spirit!

We are honored to have been nominated as one of Minnesota’s Best by readers of the Star Tribune in an array of categories that recognize the incredible work of our team at Knute Nelson | Walker Methodist.

On Monday, March 13, a group of Knute Nelson employees made their way to the Capitol to advocate for caregiving staff and residents as a part of LeadingAge Minnesota’s advocacy day. They spoke to legislators about the critical issues facing our industry and asked for support to make seniors and their caregivers a priority this legislative session. Read more.

Residents at Grand Arbor, Nelson Gables, Autumn Cottages, and the Care Center enjoyed a new and meaningful program for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This enriching program was possible thanks to funding through the Target Community Engagement Fund Grant.

Established in 1963, Older Americans Month (OAM) is celebrated every May. Led by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), OAM is a time for us to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of older Americans, highlight important trends, and strengthen our commitment to honoring our older adults. Learn more about this year’s theme.

Knute Nelson announced their plans to embark on an expansion of Crystal Brook Senior Living with the addition of 20 units to the community’s memory care household. A market study completed in October of 2022 indicated a need for additional memory care options in Park Rapids. Learn more.

Aging isn’t all rainbows and butterflies, but it is one of life’s greatest blessings. How can you enjoy the journey, embrace the change, and live an enhanced quality of life that you truly enjoy? Join us on Wednesday, May 31st to find out.

Knute Nelson celebrated the Phase II expansion of Crystal Brook Senior Living in Park Rapids, MN, with a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, June 15th. Residents, staff, and families gathered to kick off the construction of an additional 20 units to the community’s memory care household.

Knute Nelson will begin a new management relationship with Heritage Living Center of Park Rapids, MN, effective Tuesday, August 1st. They will support Heritage Living Center through a variety of operational, financial and support roles. Learn more.

This award from Homecare Homebase is given to a provider within their customer-base who demonstrates their commitment to exceptional quality of care through their assessment process.

Knute Nelson has many exciting things coming up this summer, and we invite you to join us. Continue reading this article for additional event details. We look forward to seeing you!

Knute Nelson is expanding to serve Willmar and the surrounding area with home health care services out of their office at 2800 1st Street South, Suite 231, Willmar, MN 56201.

Looking toward the future, many older adults are choosing to age in their own homes. Even if you don’t need help right now, having a plan ahead of time is important for getting the best care possible and planning for aging at home.

Life may not always turn out according to plan, but there are countless blessings to experience along the way. How can you enjoy the journey, embrace the change, and live an enhanced quality of life that you truly enjoy?

Knute Nelson, based in Alexandria, Minn., and Walker Methodist, based in Minnetonka, Minn., have entered into an agreement to merge the two companies into one. This merger is set to be finalized January 1, 2024.

Knute Nelson invites you to join us for our annual community picnic. Please join us for a BBQ style lunch and entertainment at either the Alexandria or Park Rapids picnic. Continue reading for more details.

Knute Nelson was voted as Minnesota’s Best in the state’s premier Reader’s Choice Award program. We are honored to be recognized this year in 7 categories. This incredible honor is a true testament to the care our team provides each day.

Knute Nelson has been nominated by the readers of the Echo Press in 4 different categories for the Best of the Lakes Area contest. Vote for us today!

Grand Arbor was voted Best of the Lakes Area by readers of the Echo Press. This recognition is a true testament to our incredible staff and their commitment to enrich the lives of everyone we serve.

Knute Nelson was awarded Philanthropist of the Year by the Alexandria College at their annual Legends Gala on Friday, October 6th, 2023. Read more about this award.

Nearly 15 years ago, senior leaders endeavored to incorporate servant leadership into our organization. The first call President & CEO Mark Anderson placed was to Vern Anderson. Read more about his impact on Knute Nelson.

Knute Nelson invites you to join us as we celebrate the grand opening of our Knute Nelson Home Health Care and Hospice Willmar office.

As an integral part of our Knute Nelson continuum, Population Health is a wellness and health-focused division that supports whole person care by bringing an array of approaches together. Learn more.

The season of joy is here, and we’re thrilled to invite the community to celebrate the holidays in a special way! Join us for our Christmas Movie Matinees, hosted by Knute Nelson.

Join the Knute Nelson | Walker Methodist team for a variety of events taking place this summer including the memorial dove release, golf classic, and community picnic. We look forward to seeing you!

Throughout the communities we serve, Knute Nelson | Walker Methodist is committed to transforming the lives of aging adults for the better. After our January 1 merger, we recognized the importance of unifying our mission and values.

On May 9, 2024, Knute Nelson | Walker Methodist closed on financing for the expansion of Crystal Brook Senior Living in Park Rapids alongside their partner and general contractor, Innovative Builders, Inc.

Through our efforts, we not only strive to enhance physical health, but to also cultivate meaningful relationships, foster a sense of belonging, and ensure that every individual feels valued and supported in their journey towards healthy aging.

Knute Nelson is sponsoring free Adult Mental Health First Aid training events across communities in West Central Minnesota. Register today for Mental Health First Aid training near you.

LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit, mission-driven providers of aging services, is proud to announce Mark Anderson, President and CEO of Knute Nelson and Walker Methodist, joins its Board of Directors beginning this month.

Knute Nelson and Walker Methodist have successfully merged, marking a transformative step forward in their shared commitment to enhancing the lives of aging adults.

If you feel the need for support to work through grief after the passing of a loved one, rest assured that you are not alone. Many individuals face challenges after the loss of a loved one without a place to turn. Grief groups are excellent resources for those who are struggling.