MOST SENIOR COMMUNITIES do a good job of meeting the physical, emotional, and social needs of residents, but relatively few facilities place a high priority on nurturing the spirit. St. Clare Commons is among the rare few.
As a member organization of CHI Living Communities, St. Clare Commons is poised to provide comprehensive care and services that encompass the whole person, including residents’ faith lives.
Perhaps the residents themselves best explain the importance of the faith component: Dee Johnson, who has been in Assisted Living at St. Clare Commons since January of this year, says her Catholic faith “offers an element of hope that you can never find in material things. I wanted to be in a community where I could say a Hail Mary without people questioning what I was doing. I also like that St. Clare Commons offers Mass on site Mondays and Wednesdays and livestreams Mass from St. John XXIII on Sundays.”
Lifelong Catholic Stephen Kolinski shares Dee’s appreciation for the onsite Mass services at St. Clare Commons. “It’s one of the reasons I came here,” he states. “Plus, there are a lot of nice people coming here every day and all the staff are very devoted and really care.” Stephen, who uses a wheelchair but can still drive with a little assistance getting in and out of the car, has been at St. Clare Commons in Assisted Living since October of 2022.
Gerry Oster, also a lifelong Catholic, has been at St. Clare Commons in skilled nursing care for two months as of this writing. She says it’s wonderful to be able to access Mass services right on grounds. “I haven’t been able to drive for 35 years, but using my electric wheelchair I just need to travel three hallways to get to church,” she says.
It’s not only the residents who appreciate St. Clare Commons faith-based approach to care. Their family members find it comforting too.
Pat Hensley, daughter of residents Marcie and Patrick McCabe, comments, “What really drew us to St Clare Commons was the opportunity for our parents to continue participating in their Catholic faith and go to mass three times a week and have communion too.”
Another factor that drew the family to St. Clare Commons was the option for their parents to remain together on the same campus and in the same building in the event one needs more care than the other. Pat shares that she and her siblings have peace of mind knowing someone is available to assist them too. She sees her parents being active in different ways and continuing to be independent. Her dad still drives and enjoys golfing too.
Rich Craig, son of Katie Craig, a founding member of St. Patricks of Heatherdowns, shares that when they walked into St. Clare Commons, the first thing his mom saw was the chapel and this sold her as she has embraced her Catholic faith every day. “I was impressed because the faith is front and center and that is powerful,” Rich says.
Katie has lived at St. Clare Commons for nine months now, and what impresses Rich the most is that, “The staff is very kind and no one on staff appears to be having a bad day, and if they are, it never affects the care or interaction with residents.” Rich visits his mom daily and has observed that she is happy and he has peace of mind too.
Yet another glowing testimonial comes from Tom, whose mother is in Memory Care at St. Clare Commons. He says, “I’m really happy with my mom’s care because the aides and nurses treat her so well. Mom is happy too. She’s not happy that her memory has changed, but she is happy with all the staff helping her.”
Last but by no means least, Jamie Weitrzykowski, who recently enjoyed the special Mother’s Day Tea at St. Clare Commons with his mother, Bernice, comments that his mom enjoys the chapel for a quiet time of prayer as well as Mass. He adds that Bernice has lived at St. Clare Commons for the last four years and finds the ability to express her faith comforting for all.
Join us for mass. Just call 419-931-0050 to reserve. ✲
