Like many people in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, the signs were there for Carolyn Hall: forgetfulness, struggling to find the right words, not paying a few bills on time. But Mrs. Hall was only in her late 50s, so she and her husband Jerry looked to their doctor for other explanations. After extensive research, Mr. Hall’s fears were confirmed…his wife did have dementia. And that’s when his journey to memory care at St. Catherine’s Village began.

At first, Mr. Hall cared for Mrs. Hall at their home in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Things were going OK until COVID-19 hit and accelerated Mrs. Hall’s cognitive decline. Even after bringing in in-home caregivers and nurses, caring for her became too much for him to handle. A work associate had retired to St. Catherine’s Village and Mr. Hall knew a board member at the all-inclusive Life Plan Community, so he checked the property out. After visiting, he knew this was the place where his wife would have the best quality of life.

Mr. Hall’s hope was to have Mrs. Hall admitted into Campbell Cove memory care on the St. Catherine’s Village campus. Unfortunately, it was determined she needed more support, and she was accepted into skilled nursing in Hughes Center. Directly connected to Campbell Cove, Hughes Center offers person-centered care with sensory-stimulating and enriching activities to help preserve each resident’s cognitive health. Another advantage of skilled nursing was that a physician visited Mrs. Hall in Hughes Center so she would not have to leave her familiar surroundings, which often caused agitation.

Soon after moving in, Mrs. Hall’s condition improved…so much so that the staff at St. Catherine’s Village recommended she move into Campbell Cove. While it’s common for residents to move from memory care to skilled nursing, it’s rare that someone moves from skilled nursing to memory care.

Being able to receive the right level of care at the right time on the same campus is one of the main benefits of living in an all-inclusive Life Plan Community like St. Catherine’s Village. Residents can transition from one service level to another while remaining in a familiar environment. Becoming a member of the St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community did require an up-front investment from the Halls. However, Mr. Hall—a retired banker—realized the long-term financial stability was worth it.

Now 74, Mrs. Hall is doing well in Campbell Cove…interacting with others, and dancing, doing a little soft shoe. She feels comfortable, which is a great comfort for Mr. Hall. He sings the praises of everyone at St. Catherine’s Village and believes Mrs. Hall is getting the best care possible—care that he could not duplicate on his own at home.

He also appreciates that St. Catherine’s Village is a Christian organization and calls the community is a blessing. The couple’s daughter and her family live nearby in Madison and she visits her mom weekly. Although their son is in Memphis, he agrees that St. Catherine’s Village is the right place for Mrs. Hall.

Located on 160 picturesque acres in Madison, St. Catherine’s Village is a private, gated community boasting a caring staff, on-site resident-centered care, and a mission-focused environment. It was the first CCRC in Mississippi to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the only international accrediting body for Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC).

On campus are independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, memory care in Campbell Cove, and skilled nursing in Hughes Center, Siena Center and Tuscany.

To learn more about senior living options at St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community, log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com or call (601) 856-0123 to schedule a tour.

One of the many benefits of a Life Plan Community is that residents can move from one level of care to another as their needs shift…all while remaining in a familiar environment. Jim Pierce and his wife Bettie, who have lived at St. Catherine’s Village in Madison, Mississippi for nine years, found themselves in this exact situation as Mr. Pierce’s physical health changed after an illness. Now 93, he receives the right amount of care and support in skilled nursing while Bettie remains in the couple’s independent living garden home on campus.

During their early retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce split their time between a home in North Carolina and a condo in Florida. After an accident and multiple cardiac arrests, Mr. Pierce knew it was time to start planning for the future because, “you never know what’s going to happen.” Part of that planning included a visit to St. Catherine’s Village, where they fell in love with the 160-acre wooded property.

The couple purchased a homesite within St. Catherine’s Village with the intention of building an independent living garden home after selling their property in North Carolina. While the new section of the community was being developed, the Pierces met another couple in North Carolina who already lived in a garden home at St. Catherine’s Village. Shortly thereafter, the Pierces decided it was the right time for them to move to the Life Plan Community. Then the pandemic hit…and COVID-19 hit Mr. Pierce.

“Because of my accident, I had already slowed down some and my balance was off,” he explained. “But COVID put me in dire straits. I wondered, ‘What am I going to do now?’ Thankfully I was able to move to the Tuscany building on the St. Catherine’s Village campus. And my wife was able to stay in our garden home.”

The St. Catherine’s Village team praised Mr. Pierce for taking the initiative to do something different to ensure both he and his wife receive the best quality of life for the level of care they each need.

The Pierces are a perfect example of what an all-inclusive Life Plan Community can provide. He truly has maximized the skilled nursing experience and looks at life with a glass half full attitude. He brightens up the area for everyone—both staff and other residents.

Today, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have settled into a routine where she comes to visit him in Tuscany and he can use a scooter to go down to the dining room for meals with her. He is very involved with her life and her protection even though he’s not living in the same house. He continues to manage much of what needs to be done in their garden home, making contact with the right staff when the need arises.

“I found out in the corporate world that you’re not there to be king, you’re there to be a leader and give credit where it’s due,” said Mr. Pierce. That’s one reason why he treats everyone he comes in contact with at Tuscany—from housekeeping to caregivers and nurses—with respect and is the first one to share compliments. ”They have been so good to me here. I have been so blessed.”

Married for 68 years, Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have two daughters who often visit them at St. Catherine’s Village along with seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren spread across the country from Montana to Dallas to Nashville to Mississippi.

As Madison’s preeminent all-inclusive Life Plan Community, St. Catherine’s Village provides the right care at the right time with independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, memory care in Campbell Cove, skilled nursing in Siena Center and Tuscany, and skilled nursing dedicated to memory care in Hughes Center.

The private, gated community boasts a caring staff, on-site resident-centered care, and a mission-focused environment, and was the first CCRC in the state to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the only international accrediting body for Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC).

To learn more about senior living options at St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community, log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com or call (601) 856-0123 to schedule a tour.

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As we celebrate the season with loved ones and friends, spending time together gives us the opportunity to not only catch up with each other but also check on older family members who we don’t see every day.

It’s natural for seniors to exhibit physical and cognitive changes as they age. But do you find that your older loved ones are more anxious than usual? Maybe they’re forgetting things like names and important dates or are easily confused. Do they seem overwhelmed or lonely? Are they keeping up with their hygiene or do they look unkempt? Do you notice they’re struggling physically— unstable on their feet, straining to climb stairs, or have lost or gained a significant amount of weight? Any of these activities can signal a need for a lifestyle change.

Thankfully, many senior living options exist for older Americans, including all-inclusive Life Plan Communities like St. Catherine’s Village in Madison. Those who enter a Life Plan Community have lifetime access to all levels of care as needed. For instance, an active adult can move into Independent Living at St. Catherine’s Village and leave major responsibilities such as home repairs and lawn maintenance behind. Then, over time, if these individuals require additional assistance, they have a whole continuum of care available to them—from Assisted Living to Memory Care to Skilled Nursing.

Over the long term, a Life Plan Community provides an outstanding value by guaranteeing services at a predetermined rate throughout the resident’s retirement years. It also allows for a smooth transition as a person ages and the level of care required changes. At St. Catherine’s Village, for example, residents can move from a cozy studio apartment or spacious garden home to Marian Hall to Campbell Cove to Hughes Center, Tuscany or Siena Center…all within the comfort of a familiar setting.

St. Catherine’s Village was the first Life Plan Community in Mississippi to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the only international accrediting body for CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities).

With unparalleled services and a homelike environment, St. Catherine’s Village is Madison’s preeminent, all-inclusive Life Plan Community—providing seniors the right care at the right time. The gorgeous, gated property is located on 160 picturesque acres.

In the spirit of giving this season, St. Catherine’s Village is offering a holiday special for Campbell Cove Memory Care. Right now, new residents can lock in 2022 rates and save $3,000 if they move in before the end of the year. $1,000 will be discounted from their Monthly Service Fee for the first three months of 2023.

Campbell Cove offers a protected, comfortable ambiance and activity-focused care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The secure building accommodates 36 residents in three color-coded wings, each with a common living room, dining area and 12 furnished private bedrooms. The residential wings join together in a large multipurpose area with an arts and crafts room, recreation center, country kitchen, and living room.

This thoughtful architectural design minimizes obstacles and emphasizes way-finding cues and circulation paths to guide people from one place to another. The small yet distinctive neighborhoods reinforce familiarity while common areas are available to support family-size gatherings. Outside are secure landscaped patios and a walking garden so residents and their families can enjoy time outdoors in a safeguarded setting. Campbell Cove is licensed as an “Alzheimer’s Assisted Living” community and has received “Exemplary” recognition for its person-centered programming.

For more details on the Campbell Cove holiday special or to learn about St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community, log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com or call (601) 856-0123 to schedule a tour.