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Taking care of your Loved One Is What We Do BEST!

It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always

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Home Care In Mound, MN

Home Care Mound, MN

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Grand Mound Historic Site gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Mound, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

 In-Home Care Mound, MN

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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TESTIMONIALS

“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”

Gloria285054

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Mound, MN?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

 Senior Care Mound, MN

Types of Elderly Care in Mound, MN

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming

Respite Care Mound, MN
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
 Caregivers Mound, MN
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Surfside Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
Home Care Mound, MN
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Surfside Bar and Grill or visit Westonka Museum , don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

 In-Home Care Mound, MN

Benefits of Home Care in Mound, MN

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Mound, MN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

 Elderly Care Mound, MN

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your MN's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
 Senior Care Mound, MN

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Mound, MN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.


Respite Care Mound, MN

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
 Caregivers Mound, MN

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Harrison Bay Senior Living
  • WTE Advantage Services
  • Lake Minnetonka Home Care & Senior Living Advising
  • Presbyterian Homes
  • Indian Knoll Manor
  • Artessa Mound Harbor
Home Care Mound, MN

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

 In-Home Care Mound, MN

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Mound, MN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

 Elderly Care Mound, MN

Latest News in Mound, MN

Mound maintains short-term rental ban

As online platforms like Airbnb and VRBO have become more popular in recent years, many cities across the country have implemented regulations surrounding short term rentals, including the City of Mound. The Mound City Council at its meeting on June 27 denied an appeals request from the owner of 1665 Bluebird Lane to use the property as a short-term rental, upholding its policy prohibiting short-term rentals within residential districts.The council first adopted regulations that prohibit the use of homes in residential districts for s...

As online platforms like Airbnb and VRBO have become more popular in recent years, many cities across the country have implemented regulations surrounding short term rentals, including the City of Mound. The Mound City Council at its meeting on June 27 denied an appeals request from the owner of 1665 Bluebird Lane to use the property as a short-term rental, upholding its policy prohibiting short-term rentals within residential districts.

The council first adopted regulations that prohibit the use of homes in residential districts for short-term rental use in August 2018. According to the city code, a short-term rental means any temporary occupancy of a dwelling unit that is offered for rent to a transient for fewer than 30 consecutive calendar days.

The appeal request was brought before the council after the Planning Commission denied the appeal at its meeting on May 2. Since the property had not been used as as a short term rental since 2012 and was used as a long-term rental for the past 10 years, the council determined that the property did not have lawful, nonconforming status as it was not being used as a short-term rental at the time that the council prohibited short-term rentals.

In other news, several residents came before the council to request that the city modify its plan for the lift station project on Wilshire Blvd/County Road 125 across from Lakewinds Condominiums. The plans for the lift station include a large concrete wall and a driveway for the city’s maintenance vehicles to use when they pump the lift station. The residents contended that the concrete wall will block their view of the lake and increase the amount of traffic noise, which could negatively affect their property values. They also suggested that the wall could pose a liability for the city if someone were to fall off of it or if it was used for graffiti and pointed out that vehicles may use the driveway to turn around which could be a safety hazard on a busy road.

City manager Eric Hoversten explained that it would be difficult to modify the project site plan because the city intends to keep the old lift station in service while it builds the new station. The city also can’t change the location because the existing lift station area is the low point for sewage in that area of town. Along with that, Hoversten noted that the retaining wall is needed to stabilize the hill after the soil is dug up to create a flat spot for the station.

Another agenda item for the council was to hear a concept introduction for a proposed subdivision at 5340 Bartlett Boulevard from applicant T. Cody Turnquist on behalf of owner Jon Jensen. The proposed concept involves the subdivision of the property into three parcels. The existing home is proposed to remain but will receive an addition. Two new residential parcels would be created to the north of the existing home and would be accessed by a shared private driveway along the east property line.

Nearly every property owner with property abutting the area for the proposed project came before the council to express concerns about the project related to tree loss, drainage, and privacy. In response, Turnquist asked the neighbors if they would be interested in a lot line reconfiguration to extend their property lines and promised to set up a neighborhood meeting to discuss the project further.

Justin Nilson, senior manager of Abdo also presented the 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the City of Mound to the council. Nilson explained that the city is doing well overall and steadily paying down its debt. He noted that Mound’s tax rates remain lower than its peers, though its tax rate per capita is higher compared to other class four cities. Nilson also highlighted that Mound’s liquor fund is doing well compared to the statewide average.

Along with his other observations, Nilson pointed out that the city is currently carrying a deficit of nearly four million dollars in its water fund and over one and half million dollars in its storm water fund. He explained that with consistent planning and good budgeting the city will remain in good shape and noted that many cities are currently facing or will face challenges in the coming years as a result of aging infrastructure.

The council will hold a special meeting on July 6 to discuss a potential contract for strategic planning and long range financial plan facilitation as well as the procedures it plans to use to search, recruit, and select a new city manager.

Mound hasn’t forgotten about chickens

Mound council narrowly approved the city’s work plan for the remainder of the year after turning over the possibility of striking from that list any continued discussion on keeping agricultural animals, namely chickens, as backyard pets.“There’s always going to be things that all of us individually like or not like, but our job is to listen to all and try to make the best decision for the whole community,” said council member Sherrie Pugh.Pugh joined council members Phil Velsor and Jason Holt in voting J...

Mound council narrowly approved the city’s work plan for the remainder of the year after turning over the possibility of striking from that list any continued discussion on keeping agricultural animals, namely chickens, as backyard pets.

“There’s always going to be things that all of us individually like or not like, but our job is to listen to all and try to make the best decision for the whole community,” said council member Sherrie Pugh.

Pugh joined council members Phil Velsor and Jason Holt in voting July 13 to keep the item on the city’s 2021 work plan. Mayor Ray Salazar and council member Paula Larson, however, would rather it had been plucked from that plan, arguing that the amount of time already invested in the topic didn’t warrant what would be a fourth study of it in just seven years.

Council most recently had taken up the issue last April after hearing from a resident who advocated for the keeping of hens in residential yards. The woman had made the case that it was a healthy hobby that yielded fresh eggs and that those few who were interested in taking up the hobby (around 20, she had estimated) had the University of Minnesota and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to consult on best practices for keeping chickens without raising any clucks from the neighbors. It was a self-enforcing hobby, the advocate had told council.

But that April discussion had ended on a note of uncertainty when the vote taken didn’t produce the requisite number of ayes and nays. Two council members—Velsor and Pugh—had voted to move ahead on allowing chickens in residential areas, but three others—Salazar, Larson and former council member Jeff Bergquist—had abstained from the vote entirely.

That 2-0 vote, for lack of a quorum, triggered the topic’s reappearance on this year’s work plan.

“The rules on abstentions are weird,” explained Mound city manager Eric Hoversten July 13. Abstentions fell in with the majority of the votes, he said. “An abstention isn’t ‘not voting,’ it’s actually a giving away.”

Larson, whose abstention last April was the final vote cast and so would have been the deciding factor in the chicken debate, said last Tuesday that her intention then was not to have her abstention fall in the same coop as those voting in favor and that, if anything, it should have been a vote against the keeping of chickens.

“How many councils before this council have turned this down? I think we’ve exhausted our time with this,” said Larson last Tuesday.

Keeping chickens—or other agricultural animals, like alpacas—on residential lots has been an almost perennial topic in Mound. Prior to last April, the city had also delved into the topic in 2014 and 2016, rejecting it every time and with the debate continually circling around questions of lot size, small prey predators, city aesthetics and, after the 2015 avian flu outbreak, public health.

Mayor Salazar went to the meat of the topic last Tuesday, opening the discussion beyond just the work plan and into the chicken debate itself, saying that allowing chickens would bring in requests for other agricultural animals, like pigs and alpacas. “Where do we draw the line?” he asked. “I think that line was drawn in 1962 with the prohibition of agricultural animals [in Mound].”

By contrast, both Velsor and Pugh, though they had specifically voted in favor of permitting the chickens last April, opted Tuesday to keep the emphasis on the work plan, not the chickens outright.

“[The issue] is of interest, and we’ve had many other issues which I don’t agree with but we’ve given way for staff to study those issues,” said Pugh.

Expressing more frustration than Pugh, Velsor said he’s had numerous calls and emails from residents about the keeping of chickens and that it was only right to open the forum again. “If you don’t agree with that, I think you’re squashing your citizens from coming up here and talking about it,” he said.

The chicken question is last on the city’s work plan for this year, coming after a possible streamlining of the building permit process and an update to property maintenance regulations.

“If they don’t get to it, they don’t get to it, but what’s the harm in leaving it on the list?” said Velsor. “I think there’s enough people in the town that have voiced that they’d like to see this happen that we would be doing those citizens a disservice [not to discuss it again].”

Indian Mounds Regional Park

About Indian Mounds: A Sacred Burial PlaceThe landscape of Indian Mounds is a sacred place of burial. It is a cemetery built by ancestors of living people. The place has deep significance to the Upper Sioux Community, Lower Sioux Community, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Prairie Island Indian Community, Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, and other descendants of those who are buried here. It is home to the only known remaining burial mounds within the Minneapolis-Saint Pa...

About Indian Mounds: A Sacred Burial Place

The landscape of Indian Mounds is a sacred place of burial. It is a cemetery built by ancestors of living people. The place has deep significance to the Upper Sioux Community, Lower Sioux Community, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Prairie Island Indian Community, Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin, Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, and other descendants of those who are buried here. It is home to the only known remaining burial mounds within the Minneapolis-Saint Paul urban core.

BBQ grillsPicnic area(2) picnic sheltersPlaygroundRestroom buildingScenic overlook(2) tennis courts

Permit and Rental Information

Please call the Park Permit Office at 651-632-5111 for more information or to reserve facilities or permit events. Office hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The possession of alcohol is prohibited in the park.

Picnic area photos

History

The Indigenous burial ground that is currently called “Indian Mounds Regional Park” has been a sacred site and place of burial for over a thousand years. It is significant to living Indigenous Peoples as a cemetery where their ancestors are buried. It is a place of reverence, remembrance, respect, and prayer. When the City of Saint Paul established a park in this location in 1892 with the purpose of protecting the historical setting and spectacular views, connections of contemporaneous Indigenous Peoples to the sacred site were not understood, considered, or valued. Over the last century the condition, name, and use of the landscape as a park have become beloved to the surrounding community. Yet many non-Indigenous people have wondered about this powerful landscape without knowing how to learn more about it. Through public gatherings with generous sharing by Indigenous Peoples and members of the public, strong support for protection of this sacred site has been revealed.

The Cultural Landscape Study and Messaging Plan is an initial step to update the City’s practice for preservation awareness, and understanding of sites significant to American Indians. The project team conducted rigorous research to provide a basis for a shared understanding among diverse project collaborators. The Study presents a comprehensive framework for acknowledging the sacred site and the living Indigenous People whose ancestors are buried there while:

The Cultural Landscape Study and Messaging Plan guides changes and updates within the site currently called Indian Mounds Regional Park. Visit the Indian Mounds Regional Park Projects page for more information.

Picnic Area

Community, family mourn the loss of 6-year-old found dead in Mound

County jail records show the boy's mother and a 27-year old man were taken into custody.MOUND, Minn. — It's been two horrific days for the family of a child found dead inside the trunk of a car in Mound, Friday."Eli was a very happy, energetic 6-year-old boy," said Josie Josephson. "He loved his dad immensely. His eyes would light up ...

County jail records show the boy's mother and a 27-year old man were taken into custody.

MOUND, Minn. — It's been two horrific days for the family of a child found dead inside the trunk of a car in Mound, Friday.

"Eli was a very happy, energetic 6-year-old boy," said Josie Josephson. "He loved his dad immensely. His eyes would light up when he saw his dad."

Josephson is the fiancé of Tory Hart, Eli's father. She remembers the exact moment she heard the news.

"Great sadness and disappointment this happened, when this shouldn't have," she said.

County jail records show the boy's mother and a 27-year old man were taken into custody. Court records show the boy's mother had also recently engaged in custody disputes with Eli's father.

"Although Eli wasn't biologically my own, I fought side by side with Tory to try to get him custody of him; in my heart he was my own son," she said. "We expressed our concerns numerous times."

NEW: A small memorial sits outside Shirley Hills Primary School in Mound. It’s been two days since a 6-year-old, identified by family as Eli, was found dead inside the trunk of a car during a traffic stop. @kare11 pic.twitter.com/dIDo5AG2xd

— Charmaine Nero (@CNeroTV) May 22, 2022

It's a tragic event Mound Mayor Ray Salazar says has rocked his small town.

"Our hearts go out to the family," said Salazar. "For myself, and I'm sure I share with all of our great citizens in our city, it's a horrible, horrifying situation ... You can't imagine the pain that this family must be going through, Tory, Eli's family."

And now, a community is in mourning.

"I feel we failed as a community, the most vulnerable, a 6-year-old little boy, who was forgotten," said Mound resident, Jane Anderson.

For Josie Josephson, she's praying no other family has to experience a similar pain. "I'm going to continue changing things so this doesn't happen to another child, and fathers' rights are protected, and heard," she said.

School counselors and staff will be available in all Westonka school buildings to support students, staff and parents.

There is a GoFundMe page to help the family with expenses, which has already reached more than $33,000 as of Sunday night.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, but Orono PD says there is no further threat to the public.

Charges for both suspects are still pending.

New life for sacred burial mound in Northland?

A massive, ancient burial mound in northern Minnesota, closed to the public eight years ago, may once again welcome visitors to learn about the sacred site. Grand Mound, located along the Rainy River about 15 miles southwest of International Falls, is considered the largest prehistoric structure in the Upper Midwest. After more than 30 years as a state historic site, access to the mound was blocked in 2007 amid concerns about treating a burial site as a tourist attraction. However, the thinking has changed, and the Minnesota Historical Socie...

A massive, ancient burial mound in northern Minnesota, closed to the public eight years ago, may once again welcome visitors to learn about the sacred site. Grand Mound, located along the Rainy River about 15 miles southwest of International Falls, is considered the largest prehistoric structure in the Upper Midwest. After more than 30 years as a state historic site, access to the mound was blocked in 2007 amid concerns about treating a burial site as a tourist attraction. However, the thinking has changed, and the Minnesota Historical Society now has the backing of its Indian Advisory Committee to reopen Grand Mound to the public. “I think the time has come for it again,” said Indian Advisory Committee member Jim Jones, who also works as the cultural resources director for the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. The concern about Grand Mound as a burial ground still exists, Jones said, but there’s growing interest in using the site - with the involvement of Minnesota’s Native American communities and possibly in conjunction with a historical center at burial mounds across the river in Ontario - to tell the story of the people who built the mounds and lived in the area centuries ago. The Minnesota Historical Society also is receiving a push to reopen the site from city and county officials who didn’t want it closed in the first place, arguing that the historical society hasn’t been equitable in its treatment of Grand Mound compared to other historical sites because of its location on the northern border. The state put money into a “beautiful building” at Grand Mound only to close that building a few decades later, Koochiching County Commissioner Wade Pavleck said. “If that facility were south - southern Minnesota, in the metro area, even south of Highway 2 - it would never have been closed,” Pavleck said. International Falls and Koochiching County officials requested an update on Grand Mound’s status last year, stating in a letter that they’re “very concerned as to the future plans of the Minnesota Historical Society regarding the Grand Mound facility and grounds.”

Meeting place for centuries

Slated to reopen in the next few years, the goal for Grand Mound is to “have a place where people can experience the Rainy River and the region and learn more about the people who lived there more than 5,000 years ago,” said Ben Leonard, Minnesota Historical Society manager of community outreach and partnerships. The site includes five burial mounds. Grand Mound is the largest, standing 25 feet tall and measuring 100 feet wide by 140 feet long, according to the state historical society. “It’s the only site of its type in the U.S.,” said Ed Oerichbauer, executive director of the Koochiching County Historical Society. In its potential reopening of Grand Mound, the historical society wants to ensure the site is safe and preserved, and is culturally appropriate, Leonard said. Grand Mound’s location at the confluence of the Big Fork and Rainy rivers was a meeting place for centuries. Grand Mound and Manitou Mounds, across the Rainy River in Ontario, both were created by a group now called the Laurel Indians when an international border didn’t cut in between. “Indigenous peoples from the region converged on this spot where the great sturgeon spawned. Here they set up camps to trade, socialize, feast and conduct ceremonies. And here they buried their dead,” stated a 2007 Minnesota Historical Society report to the state Legislature. The Laurel Indians’ use of the location dates back to about 200 BC. After the Laurel Indians - of which much remains unknown - the site was used by the Blackduck people. It’s estimated Grand Mound was created and used from about 200 BC to 1400 AD. A man named Fred Smith purchased the Grand Mound property in 1930 to protect it from looting. The land was sold to the Minnesota Historical Society in 1971, and the historical society built an interpretive center at the site in 1975, but it mothballed the building in the fall of 2002 amid budget cuts. The trails around the mound then were permanently closed in 2007 amid concerns about visitors at the sacred site. “Our consultations with American Indian elders have convinced us of the appropriateness of that action. We believe that the site’s designation as a burial ground supersedes all other uses,” the 2007 report stated. In 2011, Grand Mound was named a National Historic Landmark. There were valid reasons to close the site in the previous decade, Leonard said, but the situation has now changed. “We haven’t forgotten about Grand Mound,” Leonard said. Leonard said he hasn’t heard the concerns cited in 2007 raised in the current discussions about reopening Grand Mound. The concerns now are how Grand Mound’s history will be told, he said.

Cross-border cooperation

Across the river in Ontario, the Rainy River First Nations operate the Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung Historical Centre at Manitou Mounds. The center includes an aquarium, conservation lab, interpretive center and restaurant. Leonard visited that site last year and said he’s looking forward to working more with Rainy River First Nations as the process to reopen Grand Mound unfolds. Local officials would like to tie in with Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung to create a cultural tourism center on both sides of the international border that will remind visitors of the people who lived there thousands years ago, Oerichbauer said. The Minnesota Historical Society’s Indian Advisory Committee is planning a meeting in May with Rainy River First Nations leaders to take part in the annual fish fry at Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung and discuss plans for and possible cooperation between the two sites, Jones said. A reopened Grand Mound site needs to tell the story of the place, combining the spiritual significance with the archeology, and have a Native American component to it, Jones said. “What does Grand Mound represent? And there’s a cultural significance to it,” he said. It should offer educational opportunities, Jones said, adding, “people are screaming for it.” It could provide a place for students to learn, he said - not just history but also math and science, using nature and the rivers. City, county and First Nations officials met with Minnesota Historical Society staff in October to discuss the potential of reopening the site, and now those officials are waiting to hear a plan from the historical society. “I hope they don’t shortchange us,” Pavleck said. “My fear is that they’ve left it for so long, they’ll just open the gates to people. That’s not a solution.” Pavleck said the group would like to see the shuttered Grand Mound building reopened with guides for the site. Oerichbauer said reopening Grand Mound would be good for the preservation of the site, because someone would be actively watching over it. Several options for reopening Grand Mound have been discussed internally, Leonard said. They range from reopening the entire site, including the building, to a more basic plan of reopening only the trails with interpretive panels along the way. Once open, Leonard said the site needs to be sustainable. Grand Mound’s closure was partly because of operational costs and low usage. Annual visitor numbers decreased by 77 percent in the decade before the state closed the site, with 1,688 people visiting in 2002, according to the 2007 report. The historical society doesn’t want to reopen Grand Mound just to close it in a few years because of the decisions that are made today, Leonard said. It’s going to take promotion of Grand Mound to make people aware that they can visit the site once it’s open, Oerichbauer said. He pointed out that Split Rock Lighthouse probably would have the same number of visitors as Grand Mound if it was located in as remote a location. “If you do historical interpretation where it happens, you will have to pay the price,” he said.

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