Three men gathered around site plans.
Pictured above assessing the excavating at the site are from left, J Johnson, site superintendent from Brickl Brothers, Joel Farley, Aase Haugen project manager, and Adam Sutton, VP for Shift Companies.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 says, “As for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good.”

For more than ten years the board and leadership of Aase Haugen have been working arduously to achieve the dream to provide the community’s elderly with a much-deserved new place to call home. They did not grow weary, they did not lose focus on the goal, and the dream is now becoming a reality.  Earth is moving, and construction has begun on Aase Haugen’s new senior care facility, which has grown to over a $20 million project due to inflationary adjustments and post COVID level costs and product availability. It will be located on Highland Drive in Decorah and provide 60 nursing care beds (some with double occupancy options) along with 18 CCDI (Chronic Confusion and Dementing Illness) memory care beds; all with private bathrooms.  In addition, there are 12 apartments for Assisted Living, with room for expansion if donor support allows.

The new 72,000+ square foot facility will replace the existing facility on Ohio Street and expand Aase’s campus to include the existing independent senior living neighborhoods of Vennehjem and Nabotunet on Nordic Drive and Glen Barth Circle respectively. Aase Haugen Board of Directors President, Steve Langland, says, “This is a natural extension of our Continuing Care Retirement Community philosophy – to provide all levels of senior care in one organization and now this will be accomplished on one campus.”

“This project was faced with adversity and challenges at almost every turn, but we persevered,” says Langland. “We are proud to build a senior facility to care for everyone in our community, including those without the funds to pay. It has been a heart-warming and uplifting experience of faith.”

A $12.7 million loan from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development was awarded to Aase Haugen Senior Services to help with the construction of the new complex. In addition, Aase earned a $1 million grant through ERHC funds and has self-funded nearly $5 million of the project. “Our capital campaign goal is $3 million,” says Aase Haugen Executive Director, Sam Boeke, “We are at just $1.6 million of that $3 million dollar goal which is now more important than ever. So, we are reaching out with a heartfelt request for community support for our aging population to reach our fund raising goal.”

“The new Aase Haugen facility will provide much needed senior living options for our community, and most importantly – give the folks who live with us now the new home they deserve. What a wonderful way to support those who built the community that we get to now enjoy.” said Boeke, “We’re hoping to see the same level of support for our community seniors and aging population that Decorah has so generously shown for our community childcare, public school systems, colleges and universities, tourism, parks and recreation, local hospitals and medical facilities, and the downtown and area business, all which make Decorah a great place to work and live.”

“We needed to be cognizant of the senior living market,” Boeke reported, “and size the new facility appropriately to be both successful with meeting community needs, while sustainable for the future.”

“We’ve kept very busy working with outstanding staff at Brickl Brothers our general contractors, Align Architecture, and the USDA to keep the project moving” says Boeke. “And there are so many important and local groups who have supported this mission as well, but I’d like to specifically thank our Aase Haugen area church partners―what a fantastic feeling of faith and support.”

For those who would like to give to support ‘A New Place to Call Home,’ click here. For those who would like to learn more about the campaign, visit our Capital Campaign Case Statement or watch our YouTube video.

Aase Haugen Senior Services is a top employer in Winneshiek County and has been serving the community since 1915. Aase Haugen Senior Services is an all-embracing, all- inclusive senior living organization, providing a continuing care retirement community in a Christian environment, which nurtures the mind, body, spirit and connection to community.


Work has started on Aase Haugen Senior Services’ new nursing and assisted living facility just off Highland Drive in Decorah. The new 72,000 square foot building will provide a home for 60 nursing residents, 18 dementia residents and 12 assisted living apartments.To donate to the fundraiser for the new facility, visit the Aase Haugen Foundation page.


Posted September 4, 2024 in New Facility