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CHASKA, Minn. (August 6, 2014) — The Goodman Group, a national leader in developing and managing senior living and health care communities, today announced the appointment of Denise Gustafson as director of intergenerational programs, a newly created position responsible for supporting The Goodman Group’s managed senior living and health care communities’ Life Enrichment teams in developing innovative and unique programs that celebrate the opportunity to bring multiple generations together, including older adults and youth. Effective immediately, the appointment announcement was made by Craig Edinger, vice president of senior living & health care for the company. She will report to Katie Westberg, national director of life enrichment.

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Gustafson will be pioneering a new way of offering intergenerational curriculum for all The Goodman Group’s managed communities and Intergenerational Learning Centers, part of Intergenerational Living and Health Care, Inc., a national nonprofit that the company helped found and develop.  By developing and instituting intergenerational curriculum designed to link the generations the programming’s objective is to enhance the well-being of residents. She will focus on expanding this programming to encompass all communities managed by The Goodman Group. She will be based at the company’s headquarters.

“Denise’s past successes in leading intergenerational program development for The Goodman Group, as well as her passion for bringing together the generations, make her a tremendous asset in this new position,” said Edinger.

Gustafson bring more than 19 years serving as president, executive director and board member for Intergenerational Living and Health Care, Inc., a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization enhancing the lives of children and seniors in Eagan, Minn. She has pioneered various projects for The Goodman Group, such as Ages Entwined, the intergenerational program she created while at Intergenerational Living and Health Care, Inc. She has established the programming at six Goodman Group properties, and received grants for the Art Across the Ages and Recycling with Seniors and Children programs.

Nearly 20 years ago, Gustafson helped develop the Florida Learning Center at the Palms of Largo, an intergenerational community located in Largo, Fla. Previously, she taught 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders at a Montessori school in the Minneapolis School District.

Denise has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from St. Cloud State University.

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