St. Catherine’s Village has announced that skilled nursing dedicated to memory care now is available at the all-inclusive Life Care Community in Madison, Mississippi.

This living option allows residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease to age in place more comfortably, according to Mary Margaret Judy, executive director at St. Catherine’s Village.

“When a loved one is faced with advanced memory challenges, the last thing you want is to disrupt their routine and force them to move,” she said. “At St. Catherine’s Village, they can remain in a familiar setting even as their disease progresses.”

A total of 24 private bedrooms with in-room showers are available for this new living option, which combines person-centered memory care with skilled nursing services. The first to take advantage of the opportunity is long-time St. Catherine’s Village resident Robert “Dan” Burt. High school sweethearts who have been married for 58 years, he and his wife Jeanelle initially moved into an independent living apartment 10 years ago. She still resides there today.

“We had a friend who lived at St. Catherine’s Village and we would come visit, so we were familiar with the community,” Mrs. Burt explained. “One day, my husband started to show signs of memory loss and soon after was diagnosed with dementia. I did a great deal of research and everything I read said that moving into a Life Care Community was a excellent option because it would be less disruptive for him to stay in one place as his memory issues advanced.”

That’s when the couple decided to move to St. Catherine’s Village.

“I wanted a one-bedroom apartment that had a big closet and a balcony overlooking the lake,” she said. “One was available so we signed the paperwork right away and put our house on the market. Amazingly, we sold and closed within a month.”

The Burts had been in their independent living apartment for five years when the caring staff at St. Catherine’s Village noticed that Mr. Burt’s routines were changing. One day Mrs. Burt knew it was time to move him to the community’s memory care facility, Campbell Cove.

“We transitioned him gradually. At first, Dan and I would go over to Campbell Cove and listen to hymns then go back to our apartment. We began, occasionally, letting him eat lunch there without me. He also would stay an hour or so while I attended some of the many seminars St. Catherine’s sponsors here at the Village. All this allowed Dan to become familiar with the property and living areas,” said Mrs. Burt. “Finally, we moved his belongings over into a room at Campbell Cove while he was at lunch. He didn’t want to stay but the staff reassured me: ‘Give us three weeks and he will be fine.’ Sure enough, almost three weeks to the day, he felt safe and secure in his new surroundings.”

She continued, “During this time, I could visit him whenever I wanted to, which helped me with the separation. Because my apartment is in the complex next door, this was easy for me to do. After more than 58 years of loving him, I’m reassured to know he is being well cared for. In fact, I have the privilege now of going over every day to assist him with lunch and supper.”

A move to another area of St. Catherine’s Village was on the horizon two years later when Mr. Burt experienced more traumatic health issues. After approximately two weeks in the hospital with serious complications from blood clots, Mr. Burt transferred to Siena Center, the skilled nursing section of St. Catherine’s Village.

“I really wanted him to go back to his room at Campbell Cove but we knew he needed a higher level of care than what was available there,” said Mrs. Burt. “The round-the-clock-care at Siena Center was what he required.”

While in skilled nursing, Mr. Burt’s health improved; however the staff at the nursing home was not specialized in the nuances of caring for with those with dementia.

“Dementia patients live in their own world, not in ours,” Mrs. Burt said. So when the plans for skilled nursing dedicated to memory care were unveiled, the Burts immediately expressed their interest. “Dan was the very first resident to move in.”

Mrs. Burt describes the atmosphere as calm, serene and peaceful.

“No matter how distressed one might be, when they come into this environment they are soothed,” she explained. “The staff is amazing. They are always doing things to make Dan comfortable. They pamper me, too. I actually feel better when I leave knowing he is in such qualified hands.”

She gave accolades to everyone at St. Catherine’s Village—from executive director Mary Margaret Judy to the nurses and CNAs on the floor every day to the housekeeping staff. They are all gifted in what they do.

“There is a standard of care here at St. Catherine’s Village that is well above any other place I have seen,” she said. “You can see the dedication and compassion on their faces.”

One might expect this exceptional level of care to be unattainable; however, Mrs. Burt noted that she and her husband held modest jobs before they retired and they were able to move to St. Catherine’s Village within its all-inclusive Life Care program. He had been a fireman and she had been a city clerk/stenographer.

“Everyone here, regardless of background, is treated the same way,” Mrs. Burt said.

The seamless care Mr. Burt receives has been noticed by Mrs. Burt’s family, as well. She is happy to say that her sister Norma Ruth and her husband Parham Williams are now residents of independent living.

“We wanted to move while we were still in good health,” her sister said.

In addition to the skilled nursing dedicated to memory care, housing options at St. Catherine’s Village include independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, memory care in Campbell Cove and Hughes Center, and skilled nursing in Siena Center. St. Catherine’s Village is the first all-inclusive 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 CCRCs.

The all-inclusive life care community also offers 160 acres of wooded grounds, unparalleled facilities, a caring staff, companionship, 24-hour on-duty security, protected and beautiful outdoor spaces, access to on-site resident-centered care, and a mission-focused environment that encourages residents in all levels to enjoy fullness of life, health and faith.

St. Catherine’s Village is a service of St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. and is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, who have owned and operated the hospital since 1946. The private, gated community provides the right care at the right time for those in their retirement years.

St. Catherine’s Village announced that a limited number of rooms have become available in its Siena Center.

Siena Center is a skilled nursing facility on the grounds of the St. Catherine’s Village campus in Madison, Mississippi that accommodates 120 residents in private and semiprivate rooms. It recently was voted the best nursing home in Mississippi for the second year in a row by readers of the Clarion-Ledger.

“Whether someone needs temporary recuperative care after a hospital stay or long-term convalescence due to illness, they’ll find compassion at Siena Center,” said Mary Margaret Judy, executive director at St. Catherine’s Village. “Our staff provides exceptional person-centered care in a setting that recognizes each individual’s dignity and worth.”

St. Catherine’s Village is a subsidiary of St. Dominic’s Hospital and as such has access to its services. Furthermore, each Siena Center resident’s treatment is overseen by a physician who is a member of the St. Catherine’s Village medical staff with care centered around his or her circumstances. A nurse practitioner is on-site Monday through Friday while a medical director is on-site weekly. The facility’s two in-house social workers provide support beyond just physical needs but also emotional support, and two pastoral care visitors offer spiritual support. Activities coordinators plan engaging recreational, social, cultural, therapeutic, spiritual, and enriching activities, as well.

“No matter how much care a resident requires, it is vitally important to let the resident express his or her own decisions and choices,” said Judy. To accomplish this, St. Catherine’s Village maintains a staff-to-resident ratio that exceeds state requirements.

The nursing administration is comprised exclusively of RNs filling the roles of Director of Nursing, Director of Health Services, Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, and Nurse Managers. Additionally, Siena Center is licensed and regulated by the Mississippi State Department of Health as a Skilled Nursing facility.

“Finding the right living environment is a real concern for family members when they realize their loved ones need more care than they can provide,” said Judy. “We understand this is one of the hardest decisions they will ever have to make. It is our intention that each and every individual will receive unsurpassed, compassionate care at Siena Center.”

In addition to assistance with activities of daily living, residents at Siena Center are served three meals a day. A full-time in-house dietician and culinary staff provide extensive meal selections where choice is the number one priority and nutrition and taste combine for a healthy diet. Utilities except telephone and Internet are included in monthly fees as is regular housekeeping. Wi-Fi hot spots allow for Skyping with family. Round-the-clock campus security also is provided.

Siena Center is one stage of the all-inclusive Life Care Community of St. Catherine’s Village. The gated property is located on 160 picturesque acres and is the first retirement 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.

Other living options include independent living in apartments and garden homes, assisted living in Marian Hall, and memory care in Campbell Cove and Hughes Center. In addition to unparalleled facilities, St. Catherine’s Village offers protected and beautiful outdoor spaces plus engaging activities and a mission-focused environment. The ministry encourages residents in all levels to enjoy fullness of life, health and faith.

St. Catherine’s Village is a service of St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. and is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, who have owned and operated the hospital since 1946. The private, gated community provides the right care at the right time for those in their retirement years.

For information on availability and admission criteria for Siena Center, call (601) 856-0123 or log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com.

Press Release

From now until the end of 2016, new residents who move into either the Hughes Center or Campbell Cove will receive a holiday gift compliments of St. Catherine’s Village.

Together, these two facilities offer a warm, home-like environment for individuals facing memory loss due to Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. A limited number of accommodations exist for new residents who are not enrolled in the community’s all-inclusive Life Care program. Monthly rates are available.

“In the spirit of giving this holiday season, we have reduced the short-term cost to move into St. Catherine’s Village and receive expert memory care,” said Mary Margaret Judy, executive director at the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Madison, Mississippi.

While space is limited, St. Catherine’s Village is accepting new residents at Campbell Cove and the Hughes Center, both licensed by the State of Mississippi as “Alzheimer’s Assisted Living” facilities. Architecture follows design principles to minimize obstacles so that residents can maintain their independence as long as possible. For example, buildings feature wayfinding cues and circulation paths to guide people from one place to another. They also have small yet distinctive neighborhoods that allow for individual privacy while supporting family-size gatherings. Additionally, a residential ambiance makes everyone feel comfortable in their surroundings.

Campbell Cove accommodates 36 individuals in three color-coded wings, each with a common living room and dining area along with 12 furnished private bedrooms. In the center is a large multipurpose area, arts and crafts room, recreation center, and kitchen. With its combination of personal and public spaces, this layout allows individuals to enjoy their privacy yet participate in activities as they desire. A secure walking garden and landscaped patios give residents the opportunity to spend time outdoors in a familiar and protected setting.

The Hughes Center, the most recent addition to St. Catherine’s Village, was created for individuals with advanced memory challenges and offers a calming ambiance for small-group sensory-stimulating activities. Each of the two distinct neighborhoods has 12 furnished private bedrooms and a common living room, dining room, kitchen, and screened-in porch and covered patio.

“Beyond the architecture, programming at the two facilities is person-centered with scheduled—but also unplanned—activities to enhance each resident’s quality of life,” said Judy. “The staff follows a social model of care to support each person’s capabilities and affirm his or her dignity.”

Campbell Cove specializes in activity-focused care with the objective of fostering involvement and engagement through an array of stimulating and interesting activities. The Hughes Center, on the other hand, offers more person-centered care for those who benefit from less stimulating activities in a smaller group environment. All memory care staff members are trained in specialized programming so that residents receive loving, nurturing assistance based on their level of need.

“We strive to adapt the environment to the individual and meet their changing requirements as they progress through their journey,” said Judy. “Our goal is to create a safe harbor for all our residents.”

To that end, St. Catherine’s Village considers the person as a whole—spiritual, emotional and recreational—as well as physical. Planned activities include social, cultural, recreational, and spiritual.

Included in the monthly fees at both Campbell Cove and the Hughes Center are three meals a day; coffee and refreshments; supervision of self-administered medications; assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and grooming; 24-hour professional nursing staff; utilities except telephone and internet; weekly housekeeping and linen laundering; and 24-hour security

Unparalleled services and facilities are the hallmark of St. Catherine’s Village, as is companionship, a caring staff, access to on-site resident-centered nursing care, and a mission-focused environment. The ministry encourages residents in all levels to enjoy fullness of life, health and faith.

It is the first retirement community in Mississippi to earn accreditation by CARF-CCAC. This “commitment to excellence” seal signifies that the campus exceeds the standards established by the nation’s only accrediting body for CCRCs.

St. Catherine’s Village is a service of St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. and is sponsored by the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, who have owned and operated the hospital since 1946. The private, gated community provides the right care at the right time for those in their retirement years. Today, the not-for-profit, all-inclusive life care community offers adults age 62 or over a graceful lifestyle where independence and activity is a priority.

Located on 160 acres in Madison, St. Catherine’s Village provides the right care at the right time through independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing as well as memory care. For more information on daily and monthly rates as well as the holiday gift, call (601) 856-0160 or log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com.

Press Release