St. Luke, a Community Focused on Serving

St. Luke Homes and Services has been part of the Spencer community for more than 50 years. With its campus perched atop a hill overlooking the town, this community within a community continues to be there for its residents – no matter their stage of life or needs.

St. Luke is home for many in the 55+ age range, whether that’s as part of its retirement community, assisted living or nursing home care. But, as CEO and Administrator Ken Nelson explained, it’s also a home to a much broader range of residents.

“We have a wide range from people in their 50’s to 80’s and 90’s as that comprises the majority of people on campus,” Nelson said.

For example, one of its buildings on campus, South Ridge Heights, is open to any independent individual or couple. That community offers short-term and month-to-month leases. Many travelers, such as those working temporarily at Spencer Hospital, choose St. Luke as their place of residence during their time in town.

No matter their situation or stage of life, St. Luke and its staff stay focused on providing for and taking care of residents’ needs.

“We’re here to help these people in any way we can and make sure they have a nice home to live in,” Nelson said. “In all aspects, whatever they need for services, whether it’s nursing care, providing meals, lawn care for the independent living, we just keep everything running smoothly.”

Those services are just a part of the impact St. Luke has on the lives of its residents and even those who visit or attend events there.

At its core, St. Luke holds its Christian values closely along with its continuum of Christian care. It was founded in 1967 by 13 area churches and still has close connections with most of those churches.

Nelson said this aspect of what St. Luke provides to its residents is among the most important.

According to its website, St. Luke “is the church at work within the community – serving people in the name of Jesus Christ.” The campus has a chaplain who residents can go to for spiritual guidance. There are also weekly Bible studies and worship services held inside chapels at Riverview Terrace and St. Luke Lutheran Home.

The work done and services provided at St. Luke touch many lives on a daily basis. Currently, the campus has just under 200 people living in its four facilities: The Highlands Retirement Community, South Ridge Heights, Riverview Terrace Assisted Living and St. Luke Lutheran Nursing Home.

For Nelson and the rest of the staff at St. Luke, the focus always centers on service.

“We’re here to provide good service for everyone, whether they are homeowners, tenants or residents here,” he said, adding that he and the staff try to take a compassionate care approach to all that they do.

St. Luke is also a significant employer for the Spencer community, currently employing more than 130 people.

Staff and residents aren’t the only ones who can find community at St. Luke. The campus hosts events and welcomes volunteers.

“We have volunteers through the various churches in the community that come out here and provide activities and services to all of our tenants, homeowners and residents,” Nelson said.

A large activity room and chapel area, is a great space to be utilized for special events and gatherings to be hosted.

“We’ve opened that up to the public and have certain activities and events out here,” Nelson said. “We just had a senior prom for special needs high school kids.”

Nelson added that he and other members of St. Luke’s team try to keep in touch with the rest of the Spencer community, too, specifically through the Spencer Chamber of Commerce.

Nelson specifically pointed to how St. Luke participates in the Chamber’s annual Chamber Dollars program – now the Spencer Chamber Gift Card program –around the holidays to encourage its employees to support Spencer businesses.

“I want to do business in the community – we all do,” Nelson said. “We’ve made a point to even buy Chamber Dollars to have our employees spend in the community for their Christmas gifts.”

St. Luke staff appreciates the efforts of the Chamber in all that it does to promote Spencer as “the hub” for the area in many aspects, Nelson said.

“I think they’re very welcoming to new businesses and promoting the community to make Spencer the hub for the area and to attract people that want to live in or do business in the community,” he said. “I think we need to continue to invest to help Spencer grow and stay as good as it is.”

Nelson said anyone is always welcome to stop out and visit the St. Luke campus.

“We’d be glad to show our facilities and grounds off to anybody who’s interested in looking,” he concluded.