06/07/2026
A new season of starts today as we look through the Summerissue of the Friendship Haven Times.
We also have a note from our "Head Coach" CEO/President, Julie Thorson:
Many times, people ask me about the Friendship Haven difference. How it feels, what they notice, and the joy they experience when they come to our campus. The secret is revealed in this edition of the Friendship Haven Times. I’m confident you’ll enjoy reading about the meaningful relationships formed between residents and team members. These relationships are built on genuine, loving friendships.
I have proof that these connections are life‑changing. I hear it every day in our neighborhoods, hallways, and dining rooms: a shared laugh, an inside joke, a personal story told and received with care. People here are truly interested in one another. They care for one another.
The old-school philosophy says employees shouldn’t have “favorites.” The truth is, we have many. The residents who leave a mark on our lives are unforgettable. I know the same is true for our residents. The special connections they form with team members, and the mutual impact they share, change lives. That is what makes Friendship Haven special. We talk about these connections, encourage them, and celebrate them. In fact, we’ve dedicated this newsletter to highlighting these relationships.
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit with a family deeply impacted by their experience at Friendship Haven. Their loved one spent his final days with us, and the comments they shared weren’t about the furnishings, the private room, the meals, or even the nursing care specifically. Instead, they talked about how team members “got him.” The family shared how team members loved him, understood his sense of humor, and embraced it. They teased each other lovingly every day, and that dynamic created a sense of comfort that went far beyond care. It was a genuine relationship that made his last days, weeks, and months reassuring.
They do it because it’s natural and because it’s encouraged. Our work isn’t just about doing things for residents; it’s about experiencing and sharing life with them. That is what makes us different. Relationships here are genuine. They are life‑changing. They are the lifeblood of Friendship Haven.
There are many joys in this work. I experience these life‑changing connections personally, and I also have the privilege of witnessing them form, grow, and endure for years."
To sign up to receive the , please click here: https://www.friendshiphaven.org/news-events
