For 10 years, Aurora on France has been more than a place to live – it has become a community where friendships grow, families find support and residents can continue embracing the experiences that make life fulfilling.
Since opening in Edina, Aurora, an Ebenezer community, has welcomed more than 400 senior living residents and served more than 8,000 patients through its transitional care unit. For Jennifer Leonard, outreach and sales director, that impact is among the community’s proudest accomplishments.
“We have been such an important part of so many lives here over 10 years,” Leonard says.
Aurora’s location offers another distinctive benefit. Connected by skyway to M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital, residents can access appointments and enjoy an indoor walking route without stepping outside during Minnesota’s colder months. The community also offers spacious gathering areas, instructor-led exercise classes five days a week and an on-site transitional care unit.
Food is another highlight. Aurora’s culinary team focuses on balanced, flavorful options while giving residents a voice in what appears on the menu. Monthly meetings allow residents to share favorites and suggest changes, creating a dining experience that evolves with the community. Special traditions include a monthly surf-and-turf birthday dinner, where celebrants enjoy steak and lobster and can invite a guest.
Yet for Leonard, some of Aurora’s most meaningful moments happen when residents begin forming connections.
“The best part of my job is seeing a new resident make connections and build friendships,” she says. Residents might attend live music, learn mahjong or simply enjoy spending time with new friends. Leonard often hears residents say, “I should have done this years ago.”
That sense of belonging will remain a priority as Aurora enters its next decade. Following its 10-year anniversary and the dedication of a new veterans wall, the community is looking for new ways to elevate its life-enrichment programming. A new life enrichment director has joined the team, bringing fresh ideas to Aurora’s already robust calendar of daily activities, outings and live entertainment.
Leonard also encourages seniors and their families to think about future living arrangements before they become an immediate need. Even for those who have no plans to move soon, she recommends researching communities and joining waitlists early, particularly as demand for communities offering multiple levels of care grows.
“Make a plan,” Leonard says, “and then go live your life.”
After so many years in Edina, that philosophy feels fitting for Aurora on France: plan for what may come while continuing to make room for friendship, good food, new experiences and a fulfilling life today.
6500 France Ave. S, Edina | 612-504-6402 | auroraonfrance.com