Goodbye Carol

A long time client by the name of Carol, came to Shepherd House five times per week from her group home to participate in activities and increase her socialization. Carol was a wonderful addition to the Shepherd House family, spending a majority of her time in Leandra hall which is specialized for those with higher needs. Carol, although 73 years old, she declared to staff to be 16, though acted as youthful as a 3 year old.

As the elevator doors opened every morning to greet Carol, staff was greeted by her taking her shoes off and throwing them to the side, indicating that she was making herself as comfortable as possible. Shortly after her arrival into the building, the staff and clients were serenaded by wonderful songs such as “You are my Sunshine” and “Happy Birthday” as well as “God Bless America” and a year round rendition of “Jingle Bells.”

Carol, who was given the nickname “Little Carol” by staff due to her incredibly short stature, enjoyed only one activity beyond that of music, looking through her “book.” Staff and client family members searched their magazine collections to bring in any JCPenny catalogs they could find for Carol to page through until her little fingers turned black and the space next to her chair was piled high with pictures she wanted to share with others. Carol absolutely loved playing ball toss, talking about babies, and would often request “kissies” from staff. She laughed all day long and would call staff by name and talk about her sisters.

She was by far Danny Crivello’s number one fan. Every time Danny came to Shepherd House to sing, Carol was the loudest sing along voice heard, and gave the loudest cheers and claps. Danny would always get down on one knee and serenade Carol with her own song asking if she loved him, to which she would shout out “OH, YES I LOVE YOU!”

Unfortunately, Carol fell ill quite often, causing her to miss day care for as much as a month at a time. However, upon her arrival, she was as happy as ever, and staff would greet her by picking her up out of her wheelchair, and holding her in their lap like a young child, cuddling her and giggling with her. It was clear Carol was loved by her family, her group home, and by all of Shepherd House.

Little Carol passed away unexpectedly on November 9th, 2009. Shepherd House staff mourn her loss still today, but clients still talk about “that loud little one” from time to time, reminding the staff that Little Carol’s legacy at Shepherd House and as part of the St. Ann’s family, will never be lost.
Written by: Stacy Ory

Annie & Stan

At age three, Annie was everyone’s darling, an outgoing little girl who amused the elderly clients at the fledgling day care facility with her songs, dances and endless chatter. As the daughter of a staff person at the center, she often came to visit. She was uninhibited, would hop onto the laps of clients in wheelchairs and ask for a ride around the room.

One of the clients named Stan was prone to grand mal seizures. They would rip through him like a hurricane and leave him sleeping for the rest of the day. Everyone knew his signs of the impending seizure, but usually it was difficult to find a way to stop them from developing. One day, Annie too noticed these signs were beginning. She jumped onto Stan's lap and hugged him tightly. Incredibly the symptoms stopped, and Stan was spared the seizure.

Sr. Edna Lonergan, a Sister of Saint Francis of Assisi, witnessed that priceless moment and was inspired by Annie: “I decided that if I ever built a new center, it was going to be intergenerational.”

Not So Hidden Talent

Not So Hidden Talent

David J.–an artist in our midst–can be seen at work in our indoor atrium, wielding his brushes on canvas, blending color into images that emerge as portraits and landscapes that make us pause in our busy day to see as he sees.

David, a regular client at St. Ann Center, has show-cased his abilities in our center's "Seasons of Life" gallery, where local artists participate in bi-monthly exhibits, under the direction of gallery coordinator and volunteer, Nancy Macek.

But don’t just read about it. You're invited to come to the gallery and see David's works for yourself. You may even wish to purchase one!

A Visit to the Respite Center

There are so many different units and services here at St. Ann Center that if you were walking in for the first time, you probably wouldn’t know where to begin. One of them, the respite center, is a place where people can bring their loved ones, usually frail from age or challenged with a disability, when they need someone to care for them for a while. Stays are no longer than 20 days. The respite area has 9 rooms, each with distinctive décor and cultural theme. Guests may stay in the Irish room or the Polish room, for example. Guests are invited to "feel at home" during their stay, and are treated like family. A departing guest recently remarked, "I loved my stay and can't wait to return!"

Marian, one of the respite staff, said “St Ann's is a wonderful place to work. This job is a blessing to have, for more reasons than one. I was able to bring my daughter to work when she could not be in childcare. When my car was snowed in and they were able to come get me. The spirit is wonderful here.”

Now, if you can name a place where not only the service is excellent, but the people providing that service genuinely enjoy being there, then I'll be happy to say that I was wrong when I thought “there's no community in the world like St. Ann Center!”
Written by Darrell Garrett (Cardinal Stritch College)

Emma & Emil

Everyday generation gaps are bridged at St. Ann Center, but do we really know how it happens? I sat back to watch and see for myself how this intergenerational concept works. The other day I watched a group of Shepherd House visitors, battling with memory loss, who come to visit with the daycare children every Monday and Tuesday.

Inside the Dragonfly room of the child care unit, the laughter is plentiful and the painting is Picasso-esque when these two very different groups get together for art. Emma, a wise and intelligent 3 year old, and Emil, a quiet, reserved elderly gentleman were making Halloween masks and enjoying every minute of their time together.

Emma poked away at her purple, pumpkin-shaped construction paper as Emil did the same. When I asked if he enjoyed the time spent with the children he replied, "I wish we could come here everyday!" It's amazing that yarn and paint can be the catalyst for so much happiness.
Written by: Darrell Garrett, intern from Cardinal Stritch

Whether you are 2 or 62 you can learn to swim at St. Ann Center

About four weeks ago an older women contacted the aquatic department and expressed interest in learning to swim with our private swim lessons. She had a couple of near drowning experiences and was very afraid of the water. The aquatic staff assured her they would take their time and help to feel comfortable in the water.

During her first class, it took her a couple of minutes to get used to the water, but by the end of the class, she was able to go under water and retrieve a diving toy. At her second class she was able to – for the first time in her life - float in the water with a noodle to keep her balance. She was so moved by the experience, she began to cry.

This swimmer just finished her third lesson and she is swimming with a noodle from the middle of the pool to the end. Her main goal is to be able to swim without a noodle from one side of the pool to the other.

You are never too old to learn how to swim. The Aquatic Center offers; learn to swim classes (level 1 – 4), three different levels of water aerobics, open swim time and private swim lessons. Call Kristin at 414-977-5015 to learn about our classes or for more information.

Join St. Ann Center at the Memory Walk Oct. 3

A team of over 20 staff at St. Ann Center are ON THE MOVE getting ready to participate in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk on Saturday, October 3. This is a terrific opportunity to participate in the movement to end Alzheimer's disease.

The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, brings together family, friends, caregivers and concerned community members — who all want to make a difference. Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $260 million to help those battling Alzheimer's disease. (stats from www.http://www.alz.org/sewi/)

St. Ann Center Shepherd House serves over 60 clients with dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. You can still register for Memory Walk today and help us raise even more.

New Wellness Product Line Introduced at St. Ann Center

St. Anns Wellness Products has just launched a new website featuring a line of all natural wellness products including lip balm, skin balm, hand and body lotion, handmade soap, and all natural insect repellent. Our best selling product is the all natural insect repellent that is so gentle and safe for children and pets.

Customers can take satisfaction in knowing that their purchases directly support the clients and services of St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care. For more information visit us at St. Anns Wellness Products.

Cinqo de Mayo

Ole. On May 5, 2009, St. Ann Center celebrated Cinqo de Mayo, the Mexican Independence Day. Children and adults together made newspaper sombreros, ate Maria cookies dipped in Dulce de Leche caramel, learned how to dance the Mexican Hat Dance, and also broke piñatas filled with treats.

Several of the adult clients were tickled when the kids used their heads as forms for the hats. One client commented, now that’s "using my head."

What a fun fiesta!

Simple Pleasures

St. Ann Center has a monthly birthday party for our adult clients and children who have a birthday in that perspective month. We provide a lunch with decorations, cake, and great company. The children and adults blow birthday favors at one another and color birthday placemats together. Happy Birthday is sung to one and all. What a great time they have together.

This month we had a frail adult client ask her caregiver if St. Ann's still held those special birthday parties as she was in attendance last year and had such a great time and wanted to attend this year's.

It's the little things that we do that can sometimes make the most impact.

There is something to be said to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

Why provide intergenerational experiences?

Erik Erikson, psychologist, developed a theory called Generativity. The theory basically has the premise that society must have a necessary transmission of life experiences from elders to younger generations. It is required in adulthood to prevent stagnation.

St. Ann Center believes strongly in bringing the generations together on a consistent basis. The children can learn from frail elders and individuals that are coping with disabilities to break down stereotypes, give children a broader sense of the world, have a greater appreciation for all forms of life and to feel needed and useful. The adults gain a greater opportunity to be influential in teaching children in their early years and to feel needed and useful. Hmmm, feeling needed and useful, that is a universal need that we all have as human beings.

This theory makes perfect sense, but in this fast-paced, drive-thru society how can we make this happen? We don't all have built in opportunities to bring adults and children together. This may require some thinking outside the box. Look to your community, does your community have a senior center and a child care center or school. How can they come together for a regular type of opportunity? Is there something within your church that can bring elders and the young together for a sharing opportunity. Do you have a scout group or another community group where you can champion intergenerational opportunities within your community?

We need more from society than to live in gated, vacuum communities. We need to be able to share and transmit to the next generation for life to really continue and be vital.

St. Ann Center is announced as the Generations United/Met Life Foundation Intergenerational Shared Site Best Practices Award

St. Ann Center was chosen for a national award from Generations United from a large pool of applicants for the Shared Site Best Practices Award. The award will be accepted by the Intergenerational Director, Leslie Henry and St. Ann Center President, Sr. Edna Lonergan on Thursday July 30th, 2009, at the 15th Biennial International Generations United Conference in Washington D.C. St. Ann Center was also invited to participate in a poster session highlighting their intergenerational programs on Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 in a poster and Networking Opening session to the conference.

"Love Knows No Age"
The traditional motto of St. Ann Center has been "Love knows no age." This refers of course to its unique intergenerational approach to day services for children, frail elderly and adults with disabilities.

However, it also refers just as aptly to our volunteer friends next door at St. Francis Convent and Clare Hall–the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi who are retired but by no means ready to sit back and let the world go by. They are determined to continue serving in the same spirit that has characterized their entire lives as followers of St. Francis and St. Clare.

Several of these dedicated sisters walk or drive in all kinds of weather to St. Ann's several times a week to help with tasks that make it the unique place of service and hospitality that it is for the young, old and in-between who come for day service, therapy, bathing or just a human touch.

Sr. Ancille Horgan dispenses her gentle, personal warmth in the smoothy bar loated in the new section that includes the respite center, hair and nail salon and outpatient rehabilitation. She also helps the clients with their food at mealtime.

Sr. Verna Kayser, Sr. Rose Marie Kruse and Sr. Jeanne d'Arc Omilan patiently and carefully sort, clean and repair the gently used, vintage jewelry that has been donated to St. Ann's for resale.

Sr. Lenore Steilen enjoys (and she will tell you this) creating delicious baked goods for the Café and all of St. Ann's events and sales on and off site. She even had an article in the Journal Sentinel a while back featuring her baking skills and cookies.

Sr. Clara Styger works with patience, skill and wit as a therapy assistant in outpatient rehabilitation. She helps clients in a special program called restorative therapy that enables those whose insurance has run out to continue their progress.

Sr. Leonette Gertner helps quietly but with that special gift of joy "behind the scenes" preparing and packaging soup mixes and other items for the gift shop. She also pitches in with special mailings from time to time.

Other sisters who help in additional ways are: Sr. Bernadette Garbian who provides the gift of music, Sr. Philip Neri who assists at Shepherd House–our special facility for people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia and Sr. Lucille Pritzl who serves in the Seasons of Life.

Their wonderful hands-on service goes well beyond the physical things they do, as each of them shares her unique brand of Franciscan spirit with clients, staff and visitors. These sisters could be doing other things with their retirement–and many serve in other places and causes as well–but they also come to St. Ann's to give of their time and skills to better the lives of others. So what has changed in the lives they have always dedicated as Sisters? It's true, they no longer are in teaching, nursing or administrative positions, but they continue to serve with real Franciscan spirit. They have much to give–and give it–as those who are benefit from their service know first hand. And beyond that, all of us at St. Ann's are immeasurably enriched, by their presence and, yes, their prayers!

As one leader of a charitable cause expressed it recently:

"If you can find the time–and you can–volunteering is a wonderful way to help us help so many others. When you volunteer your time and talents, you free up precious staff time and resources we can redirect to other areas of need. And as a volunteer, you get as good as you give, making new friends and expanding your horizons. And, of course, there's the pleasure, unlike any other, of helping someone in need."

From grateful clients and staff, thank you, to our volunteer sisters!

Recycling Ventures at St. Ann Center

I’m sure we all heard the terms “greening” or “go-green.” At St. Ann Center we are very conscious of what we as individuals can do to adopt and promote a healthy living and working environment. Since the beginning of our 25th anniversary year we have taken the initiative to promote a “greener” environment in our workplace. We started using environmentally safe cleaners, changed our light bulbs, removed Styrofoam from our café, and are trying diligently to recycle paper, cans and plastic. We’ve even started a wellness program for employees. We are a long way from being a truly “green” workplace, but we are headed in the right direction.

We belong to an organization called Green Nonprofits. As an organization we have dedicated ourselves to become more aware and to practice and promote a healthy environment. We have begun to adopt environmentally-friendly practices within our organization. Our next step now is to advocate environmentally-friendly practices to our community. We want to learn and take responsibility for the impact we individually make on the environment.

I love the story of the little girl who is walking on the beach with her father and she keeps bending down and throwing starfish back into the ocean. After watching her for quite some time her father finally says, “you know you can’t save all the starfish, it really doesn’t matter if you throw them back into the ocean or not.” And the little girl wisely responds, “well, it matters to this one!” and she throws the starfish back into the waves.

Recycling, in particular, may seem like a waste of our time, especially when we see so many people who do not recycle. Change can happen, even if its one person at a time.

We Need Your Support

Are you interested in supporting St. Ann Center? If so, there are countless ways to make a difference. Whether it’s a cash contribution to our capital campaign, or the donation of common household items, we are grateful for your generosity and support.

To learn more about how to contribute to St. Ann Center, click here, or call Tim La Favor at(414) 977-5057.

Season Raffle Kicks Off January 22nd

The St. Ann Center Charity Cash Raffle kicks off on Janaury 22, 2009. This year's raffle offers $250,000 in cash prizes, with the first-place winner bringing home a cool $150,000. There are only 18,000 tickets for sale, so purchase yours now at St. Ann Center. Winners will be announced at a public open house on Saturday, April 25th.

To learn more, click here.