Drums for Everyone

An intergenerational music group led by our music therapist, Leslie Henry, was recently being conducted in the adult unit.

Drums were handed out to all adults and mallets to all of the children to play with their adult friends. The music therapist held the drum at an angle on the side of Mark, a man with cerebral palsy. With his fists clenched and arm outstretched he began extending his arm backwards to play while the other adults and children played.

Tommy from the Monarch room sat wide-eyed with his mouth open, studying how Mark hit the drum. He looked puzzled and amazed all the same time. Leslie gently took Tommy’s hand and helped him to begin tapping on the drum. Tommy hesitantly joined in on his own as he began to feel a little more comfortable with this new drummer friend. Together they shared some smiles, laughs, music, and greater understanding of each other.

Written by Leslie Henry, Music Therapist

‘M’ Is For the Many Things She Gave You

This Mother’s Day, Give the ‘M’ Back, with the Gift of Massage. The Wellness department is the one-stop shop for all your spring gift giving needs. St. Ann Center has four massage therapists on staff to meet your massage therapy needs. They would be happy to fit you into their schedule. Just give them a call 414-977-5056.

Gift certificates and gift baskets to order are available at all times. In addition to massage therapy, St. Ann Center offers manicures, pedicures and hair care in the full service beauty salon. All services offered by the Wellness department are available to individuals in the community by appointment.

For a complete listing of services offered, check out our website at www.stanncenter.org or stop by at the front desk to pick up our Wellness brochure.

Massage costs: 20 minute massages are $20.00, 30 minutes massages are $30.00 and 60 minute massages are $60.00

Think Spring! Think Mother’s Day!

Written by, Sandy Anderson, St. Ann Center Massage Therapist, 414-977-5056

St. Ann Center Charity Cash Raffle Winner

Mr. John Costa of New Berlin is the big winner of the St. Ann Center 2010 Charity Cash Raffle! Congratulations John! Pictured at left is John and Delma V. St. Ann Center's raffle coordinator. John came to visit St. Ann Center and pick up his winning check.

The public raffle drawing was held on Saturday, April 24 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Ann Center. There was a crowd of about 100 people on hand to learn of the new winner!

St. Ann Center holds two yearly raffles, one in April and one in October. The proceeds from these cash raffles directly supports the young, elderly and disabled clients that come to St. Ann Center for services. With the support of the raffle, St. Ann Center is able to provide care for those most in need in our community. Thank you to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket.

Cutting Costs While Caring for Creation

In recent years, rising energy costs have increased the cost of operating our warm-water therapy pool, but we have found ways to reduce those costs by installing a solar hot water system with pool and spa covers.

St. Ann Center, which is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, is not only saving money through these measures, it is also fulfilling one of its Franciscan values, to care for creation, by eliminating the release of tons of greenhouse gases each year.

“The solar thermal system and the covers will enable us to redirect the money we save on energy to services for our clients,” according to Sr. Edna Lonergan, St. Ann Center president. “This helps us fulfill our mission to serve the community.”

Because the entire solar thermal project will be funded by grants, St. Ann Center will get an immediate return on investment through lower energy bills. We expect two-thirds of the $30,000 project will be paid by grants from Wisconsin Focus on Energy and We Energies, and the balance was already donated by a longtime friend of St. Ann Center.

Last year another St. Ann Center friend, paid for the pool and whirlpool spa covers, which have saved us hundreds of dollars of fuel costs each month since installation.

Full Spectrum Solar (Madison) is expected to complete the St. Ann Center solar thermal system in April. The pool and spa will still use a backup boiler that will operate at night or on cloudy days.

St. Ann Center is a handicapped accessible facility that offers aquatic programs, swimming lessons, physical therapy, and recreational swimming to adults and children enrolled in day care programs and the general public. For more information about St. Ann Center’s Aquatic Program, please contact Kristen Benetti at (414) 977-5015 or kbenetti@stanncenter.org.

Written by Barbara Finley

Be A Believer!

It’s very hard to answer the question, “What is St. Ann Center?”

St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care is a HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ALL AGES. Yep, that’s right, a community center. A center where the community can gather for adult and child day care, respite care, aquatic center fun, outpatient rehabilitation needs, massage therapy, music therapy, ceramics and art programs! But it’s really just a big COMMUNITY CENTER.

How can one place be all these things?

It takes a lot of dedicated employees, hard working volunteers, and active community members, but it works!

St. Ann Center held its ‘Munch with the Easter Bunny’ this weekend and it turned out to be a wonderful COMMUNITY EVENT! There were games for the kids, a visit from the Easter Bunny, wonderful food and a fun filled egg hunt! St. Ann Center serves the community. Come on over and visit. The Center is open Monday – Friday 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and the public is welcome at anytime to stop in and visit, peruse our gift shop or jump in the pool!

This is a place you have to see to believe. Come over and be a believer!

St. Ann's Bed and Breakfast?

When Eleanor heard she would be spending a few days at St. Ann Center while her son and wife had to be away on a trip, she thought maybe she was going to a nursing home. Or she secretly wondered if this wasn't the first step in that direction. She was feeling very uneasy.

So, when she stepped into St. Ann Center's respite center, with its beautiful welcome sign stating this was a "European Village" she had one surprise after another–all of them more pleasant than the next.

She found out that this was going to be a home away from home during her stay. Like a "bed and breakfast" she would have a tastefully decorated room all to herself with elegant furniture and bathroom facilities. Her room was called the "Swiss Chalet" with colors and décor to match the theme.

She would take her meals in the dining room with the others at a sit down breakfast, lunch and dinner. The tables and chairs were beautiful oak and the dishes were china. The tasty food was prepared by the center's kitchen staff, according to her dietary needs.

There also was a beautiful dayroom with rockers, sofas and chairs, with a wide screen TV and a fireplace on one wall. If she wanted to take a bath during her stay, she could have a bubble bath in the whirlpool tub – and she did!

Eleanor stayed the week and had such a great time that when it was time to go home, she felt a little sad. She had met so many nice, caring people who already felt like friends. She was looking forward to the next time her son had to take another trip!

St. Ann's respite center is open 24-7 for adults who are experiencing life's challenges from age or disabilities. More information can be fund by visiting http://www.stanncenter.org/ or calling (414) 977-5000.

How do you make lunch time special? Put a little intergenerational "flavor" in it!

At St. Ann Center for All Ages we believe that our intergenerational aspect–bringing generations together–strengthens our community, helps people feel useful, fosters friendships and makes people happy.

Laura is a special volunteer who understands this quite well. Each Wednesday she helps Dennis, an older man who must use a wheelchair. He has a permanent cast on one arm and his range of motion is limited. When its time for lunch, Laura takes Dennis to visit the Dragonfly classroom for three-year old children, and arranges for two of the children to share lunch with them. Things didn't go smoothly right away because three-year olds can be cautious but curious.

When the youngsters first met Dennis mostly what they noticed was his big wheelchair, and quietly stood back. The children asked her “What’s wrong with him? Why is he in a wheelchair?” Laura would say, “Why don’t you ask Dennis?” They began to warm up and realize that Dennis was nice and friendly so they began to ask him questions.

Now Dennis visits the Dragonfly room regularly. This has made a big difference in the children's life and his too. He used to sit alone in one spot in the atrium, and he did not interact much. Now he feels more comfortable and talks with others. He really feels more welcome at the Center especially when his little friends shout “Dennis!” when he enters their classroom. If they happen to see him in the atrium or when they are out for a walk they all yell “Hi” and give a wave to Dennis their new friend!

It gives Dennis an emotional lift and warms the heart of anyone who sees this happen.