Meaningful Connections Make All the Difference

At Perham Living, connections between staff and residents grow into meaningful, long-lasting relationships. Two relationships that illustrate these special bonds are the friendships that Resident Engagement Assistant Janelle Connor has built with Colleen Cordes and Gary Gunstinson, two residents she now calls her “closest friends.”

Janelle has been working at Perham Living for four years as a resident assistant, supporting residents with daily activities, taking them to events, and simply spending time in conversation. “I help all the residents with activities,” she explains.

“But Colleen can’t always do activities, so I help her a lot in her room, doing her hair and just getting her upbeat. Some days she gets down on herself, so she needs somebody to kid around and make her laugh again.”

Colleen joined the community three years ago after a series of strokes left her unable to live independently. She remembers that transition as difficult—until she met Janelle. “I had three strokes before I met Janelle, and she pulled me back out of my funk,” Colleen shared. The bond was immediate.

“The chaplain told me about Colleen, so the first day she moved in, I went over to try to talk to her, and we just clicked,” Janelle recalled. “We found out that we’re only six months apart in age, so I think that is part of why we click so well. We understood each other.”

Their mornings begin with chair yoga, followed by hairstyling, family stories, and companionship.

“It’s been a beautiful relationship,” Colleen said. “We’re so good for each other—it just fell right into place.”

Janelle’s connection with Gary is equally special, though unique. Gary has lived at Perham Living for five years. He spent 40 years working for General Motors dealerships and is a Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Enterprise. He carries a lifetime of stories that he enjoys sharing—especially while working on his favorite hobby: model building.

“Janelle’s a good friend,” Gary said warmly. “She helps me a lot with doing my crafts.”

Right now, the pair is finishing an impressive two-and-a-half-foot model of the USS Nimitz—a project more than a year in the making. “He’s cut out probably 200 pieces,” Janelle said with admiration. “And then he tells me where they should go, and we work together to build it. We’ve had lots of great conversations about his time in the Navy while doing it. It’s been a long process, but we’re really excited about getting it done.”

When not putting models together, the two can often be found playing Pinochle—sometimes as partners, occasionally friendly rivals. “We get competitive,” Janelle laughed. Gary agreed, adding, “We always have a good time.”

For Janelle, these relationships are why she loves coming to work. After 42 years working at a nursing home in Moorhead, she moved to the area, intending to retire—only to realize she wasn’t ready to step away from the work she loved. “I don’t know how to be retired,” she joked. When Perham Living hired her, she was thrilled. “I look forward every day to coming to work here.”

Both Colleen and Gary describe Janelle as one of the biggest blessings in their lives at Perham Living. “She knows how we feel and what we need,” Colleen said. “She comes to us—we don’t have to go to her.” Gary echoed the sentiment: “She’s a very, very nice person,” he said. “She’s my favorite.”

The feeling is mutual. Janelle speaks of Gary’s stories, Colleen’s resilience, and the shared laughter and daily routines that have formed their friendships. “We’re super friends,” she said.

When asked what they would tell someone considering moving into Perham Living, both residents spoke without hesitation. “It’s a good place,” Gary said. “Always something to do and good people.” Colleen agreed: “It’s a beautiful place, and people really care about us.”

From chair yoga to card games, from shared memories to model ships, these relationships reflect the heart of Perham Living—a place where staff and residents are like family.