Our History and Who We Are
Founded as the Merriam Park Living At Home - Block Nurse Program (LAH/BNP) was incorporated in November of 1991. It came to be through the efforts of concerned citizens involved with the Merriam Park Community Council. Initially the Merriam Park LAH-BNP and the Merriam Park Community Council were linked with shared fiscal management, but the LAH/BNP program grew quickly and soon took over all aspects of its own administration. The program has since expanded to include all of the Union Park and Summit-University District Councils, Macalester-Groveland, and Highland Park, hence changing our public name to Neighborhood Network for Seniors (NNfS).
Our first Program Director, who was a nurse, was hired in February of 1992. Permanent office space was obtained at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and services to seniors began being provided in early spring of 1992. In November of 1994, a new Program Director was hired to work hand-in-hand with the Block Nurse. Fundraising efforts have allowed the Merriam Park LAH-BNP to offer nursing services on a sliding scale fee basis to ensure that seniors who do not qualify for county or state assistance can afford the home care they need. The staffing model used by the Merriam Park LAH-BNP stresses the importance of providing professional in-home nursing services partnered with community and volunteer support.
Neighborhood Network for Seniors is the Living At Home/Block Nurse Program serving ONLY the following neighborhoods: Highland Park, Lexington-Hamline, MacGroveland, Merriam Park, and Summit University by linking seniors to neighbors and services that can help them live safely at home. We provide no-cost and low cost services for people over the age of 65 and their families and friends. We strive to be the one call seniors and caregivers make to find resources to help them maintain or regain their independence. Our service area map.
The Neighborhood Network for Seniors is part of a network of local programs that mobilize and coordinate community volunteers and health professionals to help their older neighbors stay in the homes they love. By alleviating barriers to service, helping seniors prevent as well as manage illness, and coordinating and simplifying care, Living At Home/Block Nurse Programs prevent and delay nursing home admissions for hundreds of seniors each year. This saves the taxpayers of Minnesota millions of dollars. It helps to keep our communities whole, and it allows frail seniors the opportunity to continue to contribute to their community.
We are funded through the generous support of: The City of St. Paul, The MN Department of Health, The MN Department of Human Services, Ramsey County,, the Hardenbergh Foundation, private grants and contributions, and individual donors.
Below we share our annual report and supporting financial documents:
2022 Minnesota Charities Report
