Shana Lanctot, RN, says she was blessed to grow up on the same farm in rural Red Lake Falls where her grandparents also lived.
It was an upbringing that helped shape her passion for caring for older adults.
“I feel strongly that is where my passion for elder care comes from,” Lanctot said. “I have worked in skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes, and assisted living most of my nursing career. My professional goal is to make older adults’ lives as good as they can be.”
Recently, Lanctot brought that passion back “home” to RiverView Health, joining the organization to lead its Senior Life Solutions program.
“It feels wonderful to be back at RiverView,” she said. “Especially with Senior Life Solutions being located in the old nursing home space, it is like coming home.”
For Lanctot, the return is more than a new job. It’s a return to a place where she spent 10 years of her nursing career.
She worked at RiverView’s nursing home from 2004 through 2014, including serving as director of nursing. Since then, she has held director positions at Oakcrest Senior Housing in Roseau, Hillcrest Senior Living in Red Lake Falls, and Oakland Park Assisted Living in Thief River Falls.
Now, she is bringing that experience to a program focused on another important aspect of older adult care: mental health.
“I have a passion for caring for our older populations,” Lanctot said. “My goal is to make this part of their life as good as it can be and help individuals function at their optimum ability. This population experiences a great amount of change and, unfortunately, losses in different parts of their lives. The focus on their mental health during this period is very important.”
Supporting Seniors
RiverView’s Senior Life Solutions program provides outpatient behavioral health services designed to meet the unique needs of older adults experiencing depression, anxiety and other mental health challenges.
The program provides a supportive environment where older adults can address emotional and mental health concerns while continuing to live in their homes and communities.
Services include:
- Confidential, comprehensive assessment
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Medication education and management
- After-care planning
Lanctot is looking forward to helping older adults and families in the surrounding communities access these services.
“I am excited to provide education and support to our local communities,” she said. “My goal is to continue to grow our program and provide this excellent service to the older adults in our community.”
A Full Family Life
Outside of work, Lanctot stays busy with her family. She and her husband of 26 years, Matt, have four children. CJ, 24, is following in her mother’s footsteps and attending Northland Community and Technical College (NCTC) for nursing. Lila, 21, attends Concordia College in Moorhead, where she studies psychology and sports medicine and plays hockey. Denny, 18, attends NCTC for carpentry, with his parents’ kitchen remodel serving as the first project on his to-do list. Mary, 16, is a sophomore at Lafayette High School in Red Lake Falls.
The family also includes two dogs, Auggie and Ruby; cats who help keep the mice at bay; and what Lanctot affectionately calls her “lovely little flock” of chickens. The chickens provide plenty of eggs – and a lot of enjoyment for Lanctot, who lovingly refers to them as “my ladies.”
Looking ahead, Lanctot is excited to cheer Lila on in her final year of hockey, watch softball, and work on her gardening skills next spring.
For more information about RiverView’s Senior Life Solutions program, call 218-281-9559.
