Meet the Queen!

The bonds, friendships and interactions between staff and clients at St. Ann Center mean as much to the staff member as it does to the client. One example is Sandy who works in our Southwest Unit, nick-named The Queen, and Jo-Ann who comes to the center Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Jo-Ann spent 3 weeks creating a special sign, crown, cape and royal staff for Sandy as a surprise birthday present, even though no one knows when Sandy's birthday is. Sandy spent all afternoon showing off the card that reads:

To the Queen: Your kindness has made all the difference. Thank you very, very much.

 “I’m glad you are there for me every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I look forward to seeing you. Also I like helping you around St. Ann’s. I’m glad that you ask me to help you. I’m so happy that you welcome me back when I miss a day or two. I hope you enjoy your birthday present (whenever your birthday is) also enjoy your sign. I’m happy I have a good friend like you.” - Jo-Ann

Thank you to our clients and staff who do the little things to show they care, because those little things make the biggest difference.

Horse Races at St. Ann Center

Check out the excitement at St. Ann Center as we host our very own Kentucky Derby! Laughter filled the atrium as staff members raced around on their broom horses.

Always Room for Creativity at St. Ann Center

St. Ann Center has a new space for our artistic clients. 

Circular table in the new Art Therapy Room.

A variety of art supplies
are provided for clients. 

Our new Art Therapy room features a large circular table with plenty of room to spread out paper, markers, colored pencils and paint. Along the left side of the room, there is a table for working on more delicate crafts like ceramics and a large shelf stocked with varieties of art supplies. A second half of the room is being updated as a gallery space, giving clients the opportunity to have a beautiful space to display their art.

The large shelf stocked with endless
possibilities for creativity.

Yolanda, our art director, guides clients through a variety of art projects and is always there to lend a hand with final touches like drying a painting or adding a little border to a colored heart valentine. 

There is an wonderful feeling of community around the main table as clients share praise and the joy of making art together. We truly feel blessed that we are able to give them the opportunity to be creative and its easy to see how proud they are of their beautiful works of art.

A client creating a paint for her mom.

 Recently clients enjoyed coloring and painting Valentines for their loved ones. Check out the photo album on our facebook page here>

We also offer different art opportunities to the community including ceramic classes (414)977-5038, and the art room can be rented for parties. Visit our website for more details>

Respite is Care for the Caregiver!

Anyone who takes care of a loved one knows what it means to get a welcome break – no matter how dedicated they are!

This is what we mean by respite-supporting the person who gives care as much as the one receiving it.

We’d like our community, especially the many dedicated caregivers, to know about our 24 hour overnight respite care center.

St. Ann Center offers this care (from 1-20 days) to frail elderly and adults with disabilities. This gives caregivers a chance to take a few days off, go on a vacation, or maybe stay at the hospital worry free while their loved one is in good hands.

We often say St. Ann Center is someplace you have to see to believe, from the beauty of the center to the care shown to the clients. The nine bed respite center is set up like a European village with each private respite room decorated to look and feel like a bed and breakfast room. The bed and breakfast feel lets the clients who stay in there feel like they are on vacation, comfortable and surrounded by beauty.

St. Ann Center currently has room in its respite center and is always accepting new clients. Even if you don’t need respite – you might know someone that does. We are happy to answer your questions or offer you a tour any time, just call Sarah at 414-977-5033.

Below is a testimonial from the family of a respite client.

“What can I possibly say to express the refuge that I have found at St. Ann Center over the past few weekends? I even think that I could do a commercial testifying to the personal care and concern that you and your staff have shown to my dad. Checking once and sometimes twice for accuracy of the meds dispensed, to the gentle care in the respite center only confirms all the wonderful things I had heard prior to his stays. Thank you and St. Ann Center for an outstanding care center.” Kathy Anderson

St. Ann Center is open to the public 6:00 a.m. – 6:00p.m. Monday – Friday.

Jewelry making is art, therapy and a whole lot of fun!

Susan G. and her jewelry creations!

Suzanne Leberman is St. Ann Center’s jewelry teacher and works one-on-one with many clients creating beautiful wearable art. St. Ann Center offers jewelry classes for a small cost to any client interested in learning to make their own jewelry.

A new client named Susan G. started attending St. Ann Center in November. She was recovering from a brain aneurysm and part of her therapy at her rehab facility was stringing beads so naturally when she heard about the Suzanne’s jewelry classes she was intrigued and signed up right away.

When Susan began the jewelry making classes her jewelry was beautiful but very simplistic and followed an easy pattern of 3’s. As Susan progressed her jewelry has increased in beauty as well as design complexity. She has steadily moved beyond set patterns and advanced to creating lovely necklackes, bracelets and matching earrings. Suzanne says that she has really witnessed a change and definite progress in Susan’s abilities since she started. It’s exciting to witness such change and improvement in the health of our clients.


This is one of the first jewelry pieces that Susan created.



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 This is one of the later pieces that Susan created



 Susan (St. Ann Center Client) and Suzanne L.(jewelry teacher) 

African Dance comes to St. Ann Center

This week a very inspirational dance group came to St. Ann Center to entertain and share their talents with the clients, kids and staff!


The DanceCircus and Xalaat Africa Drum and Dance for Life dance groups is an dance corp that trains junior and senior high school students in modern and African dance and modern and African drumming. For two weeks during the summer the group performs for Boys & Girls Clubs, senior centers, care centers and community sites.

We were very fortunate to have the opportunity to experience their wonderful dancing and drumming skills. Everyone was entertained and had so much fun! The little kids were just dancing in their seats and waving their hands in the air. The clients were trying to clap along to the beat of the drums and the staff was cheering! Some of the St. Ann Center kids were asking how they can get involved in this wonderful group.

For more information about Dance Circus check out their website at http://www.dancecircus.org/.
Check out the dancing on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/stanncenter?feature=mhsn

A heart warming site on a cold winter day!

Mornings can be crazy in the lobby at St. Ann Center – people coming and going, staff coming in for the day, clients arriving on buses, caregivers dropping off their loved ones, parents dropping off their sometimes crying children, housekeeping trying to keep the floors clean and dry in these wet winter months.

As I watched the clients arrive I was humbled as I usually am by the amount of care and concern the staff shows to each and every person that arrives through the front door. One arrival in particular caught my attention - Marta a woman in her 20’s. She was seated in her wheelchair bundled from head to toe with hat and scarf, large winter coat and blanket on her legs. Marta can’t speak but she has the most infectious smile. Today, as she’s greeted with a friendly “good morning” her nose is running from the cold. The caregiver who greeted Marta sees her and says “Oh honey, let’s wipe your nose, that must be uncomfortable,” and she gently wipes Marta’s nose. Marta returned the favor with one of her beautiful smiles.

Marta is unable to wipe her own nose, she’s unable to dress herself, she’s unable to feed herself, and she’s unable to go to the bathroom by herself. These are all the things that the staff at St. Ann Center provides for her along with loving companionship. It really was a very heart warming sight to see!