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.

"Embrace Change" - St. Ann Center highlighted in BizTimes!

Christine McMahon, a business strategist for BizTimes, highlighted St. Ann Center in a recent article, "Embrace Change." 

At St. Ann's Center for Intergenerational Care, Sister Edna Lonergan identified the need in the early 1980s for an intergenerational community-based center that supports family well-being. Today, St. Ann's Center provides loving support for family members with dementia, Alzheimer's, or individuals in need of adult care, child-care, grooming, message therapy, counseling or respite care, regardless of their economic means. Her goal "to lift the human spirit" through intergenerational care, has earned St. Ann's Center numerous local and national awards. Their approach to serve the whole person – mind, body and spirit – and enhance the quality of life for both caregivers and family members has created a unique and valued resource for the Milwaukee community.

What these organizations share in common is a relentless commitment to adapt and optimize market opportunities. They each have developed their own systematic approach to change that allows them to shift gears swiftly and deliberately. They refuse to allow circumstance to dictate their future. Rather, they have figured out how to be the master of it.

Read the full article here> 

Leprechaun Hunting with Bumblebee!

With St. Patricks Day coming up, throughout the week our children in the Bumblebee classroom brainstormed and creatively planned how they could catch a Leprechaun! 

They constructed a trap all by themselves, from gathering the materials - to putting it together. After finishing it yesterday all the kids left for home, anxiously waiting to see if their Leprechaun trap would be successful.

Bumblebee teacher, Diana met the children when arrived with some interesting news.  The Leprechaun had left a her a note stating that the children had to follow his clues to find his treasure!

Off the children went looking for large shamrocks in the colors of the rainbow. They had to find each color shamrock in order: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple. Adult clients laughed as they watched and heard the youth yelling as they found each clue. The shamrock trail led around the atrium and back up the stairs to their room door. 

In front of the door hung a sign that the children had left the night before:

"Do Not Enter - Today we might have a visit from a Leprechaun. We ask that nobody, including parents  open the door. We don't want the Leprechaun to get scared and not the gold for us! Thanks, Bumblebee Class"

Knowing the last clue would be inside their room, the children crept through the door, hoping they had caught the Leprechaun in their trap. 

Watch this video to see what they found!

The Leprechaun was not amused by their attempt to trap him and messed up the Bumblebee room! However, as a nice gesture, he did leave gold treasure for each child before he escaped. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day from St. Ann Center. 

Medicare Rewrites the Rules on Therapy Services

 “This is absolutely wonderful news for the clients of our center” says Carol Dickert, Vice President of Outpatient Therapy Services at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care.

Thousands of people with chronic conditions and disabilities may
find it easier to qualify for Medicare coverage for outpatient therapy
under policy changes in Medicare.

As a result of a recent nationwide class-action lawsuit, Medicare has agreed to scrap a decades-old practice that required many beneficiaries to show a likelihood of medical or functional improvement before Medicare would pay for skilled therapy services.

Under this significant change Medicare will rewrite the manual to make clear that its coverage rules will pay for “Skilled Maintenance Therapy” it is needed to maintain the patient’s current condition or prevent or slow further deterioration regardless of whether the patient’s condition is expected to improve.

This change will help people with chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injury. It could also provide relief for families and caregivers who often find themselves stretched financially and personally by the need to provide care.

Disability frequently accompanies many chronic conditions and often there are no cures, so people are likely to experience progressive disability. Rehabilitation, including Physical and Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, are incredibily important to maintain a person’s function and quality of life.

To find out more information or to schedule an appointment for therapy at St. Ann Center contact: Outpatient Therapy Services, Carol Dickert, 414-977-5005 or email csdickert@stanncenter.org

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>

Announcing "Ageless Beauty Hair & Nail Salon"

We hosted a contest with the four local area high schools to name our hair and nail salon. Our salon staff selected the four following winners:

1st Place - 
"Ageless Beauty Hair & Nail Salon" by TaShae Goodman, Bay View High School Senior.

Kris Aderhold, Class of 1986 and Tashae Goodman, Class of 2013 
in the newly-named Ageless Beauty Salon in the St. Ann Center. —photo courtesy MPS

2nd Place - 
"Bella Bonita Hair & Nail Salon" by Joseph Hall, St. Francis High School Senior.
3rd Place - 
"Picture Perfect Hair & Nail Salon" by Savanna Thompson, Cudahy High School Sophomore.
4th Place - 
"The Cutting Edge Hair & Nail Salon"by Lydia Bestul, St. Thomas More High School Senior.

Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to all of our contestants for their participation!


At St. Ann Center we believe it feels good to look good. That is why we dedicate ourselves to delivering the best, and most up-to-date haircuts, styling, hair color and treatments available. Expert nail, facial, and waxing services complete your experience. Our professional stylists are licensed and experienced. We currently have four stylists available for all your facial, nail, and hair care needs.

Our Salon is open to the public and serves frail elderly, adults, children, and everyone in between! Stop in, we would love to meet you! Click here to find our hours and a special offer>

Our Non-Profit Excellence Award

We’ve received the Excellence in Innovation Award from the Non-Profit Center of Milwaukee!

On Thursday December 6th, St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care was presented with the Non Profit Spirit of Excellence Award, “Excellence in Innovation.” The award recognizes a non-profit that is a leader in management and operational

strategies and also has innovative applications of best practices or new methods in a specific area as well as operating at a level of overall excellence.

St. Ann Center embodies these qualities. There are daily accomplishments at St. Ann Center with the activities revolving around the intergenerational day care program. They include child day services from six weeks to five years of age, after school care, summer camp and our “Buddy Program,” in which at risk youth are paired with adults of different ability levels. Adult overnight respite care, outpatient rehabilitation of all levels is available. Clients participate in a myriad of art projects, cultural activities and special events. All age levels enjoy dancing together at Friday Sing-A-Longs with Danny and recently were delighted with a performance by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

For the community, St. Ann Center provides various educational and enrichment

programs. One of the most popular courses is the Benevolent Touch Therapy

Education, teaching participants how to give gentle and calming touches to

reassure agitated clients. Ongoing support groups for caregivers and persons with

Parkinson’s are provided monthly, as well as various counseling services to help

work through difficult emotions felt in situation of loss and care giving.

St. Ann Center’s innovation lies at the heart of our mission: to provide community-

based health and educational services for children and frail adults and to serve as

a resource for caregivers. Our intergenerational services have become a model and

inspiration for others locally, nationally and internationally. Visitors have come to

the Center from the United States and other countries including Germany, Ireland,

Israel and Japan to view a working model of intergenerational care. After Company

President Sr. Edna Lonergan visited Cameroon, Africa a similar program was

established there. The Center has received local, national and international awards.

St. Ann Center is truly honored to be a recipient of this award. We look to continue

our innovative services by establishing a new intergenerational program in

Milwaukee’s near north side. The impact of replicating this program would be felt

in many ways – new employment would be provided in an area of great need and

caregivers would be able to remain employed while their young and elderly loved

ones are well cared for. We would like to thank all those who have made everything

St. Ann Center does possible, and hope for your continued presence and support as

we grow to serve more people in need.