When family caregivers need time away, service keeps loved ones safe, happy.
The grand re-opening celebration will take place at 1 PM on Thursday, July 27, with ribbon-cutting, tours and light refreshments. Caregivers who can’t make that time, can visit all week between 10 a.m and 4 p.m. for individual tours and information.
This service, set to re-open in August, was available briefly previously at the Bucyrus Campus, 2450 W. North Ave., pre-pandemic, but closed during 2020 shutdown. With demand on the rise, St. Ann Center is excited to again provide this specialty service for north side families, to allow caregivers peace of mind when they need to tend to their own needs – a business trip, medical procedure, vacation, or simply time to refresh to avoid burning out.
“We’ll take very good care of your loved one, so you can get a much-needed break from the physical and emotional demands of caregiving,” said Sr. Edna Lonergan, founder and president of St. Ann Center.
St. Ann Center is primarily noted for day services, she said, but noted that the original Southside campus has operated a successful overnight respite program since 2007, when it began in response to caregiver requests for temporary night-time and weekend care to supplement the day program.
The Bucyrus unit features nine private bed-and-breakfast-style rooms decorated to feel cozy and home-like. A large gathering room with a fireplace holds comfortable furniture, a large flat-screen TV and multiple tables for games, puzzles or other activities. Freshly cooked meals will be served in the dining room. Guests can also enjoy a whirlpool bath, with bathing assistance. Hallway walls showcase original artworks by Milwaukee High School of the Arts students.
Overnight respite care is available not just to St. Ann Center’s day program clients, but also to community members, who may join the Monday-Friday day program activities downstairs if they choose.
“Many caregivers are unaware this kind of respite care exists, let alone in their own neighborhood,” Lonergan said. “We want them to know St. Ann Center is here for them, that we understand the demands placed on them, and that we’ll treat their loved ones with empathy and kindness.”
The cost will vary, depending on the level of care needed. St. Ann Center accepts private pay and payment assistance from Family Care, Community Care, Care Wisconsin, IRIS, Department on Aging and more. There is no minimum stay required; a caregiver may need only a weekend morning or afternoon of care.
Sr. Immaculate Matini, a registered nurse who has been working in the Stein Campus respite program for the past year, will direct the Bucyrus Campus program.
Caregivers should be aware that to arrange a stay, they must first enroll their loved one in the overnight respite program, a process that requires a physician’s clearance and other preparation.
For more information about the program or how caregivers can apply for overnight respite care for their loved one, please call (414) 210-2408, or email Sr. Immaculate at [email protected].
St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care is a nonprofit with a world-renowned day care program that serves children, frail elders and adults with disabilities, all in the same home-like setting. The Bucyrus Campus, opened in 2015, replicates the original St. Ann Center intergenerational campus, on Milwaukee’s south side since 1999. Both campuses offer supplemental health and wellness services. This year marks St. Ann Center’s 40th year in adult day programming.
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