The realization that one year has quickly gone by since my husband, Bob, entered St. Camillus Health Center last October awakens deep thoughts and emotions within me.  They are reminders that letting go is still a struggle at times.  Visits, to spend time with Bob, have been numerous.  As I pass through the front door, I note the cozy sitting area, complete with fireplace, and hot coffee.  The familiar ritual begins with several warm greetings exchanged with staff and residents I meet along my way, revealing a sense of belonging that has invited many tender moments.  Everyone is acknowledged. Relationships have formed as they do in every family.

October marks another milestone - our 45th wedding anniversary:  Fr. Jack will help us celebrate this occasion during mass, as he has with other couples.  Feelings of gratitude deepen, when I ponder the opportunity to pray the Rosary and receive Holy Eucharist daily.  It adds great meaning to life at St. Camillus and provides comfort and richness to those able to participate, especially during difficult times.

I don't know how to fully capture the various ways joy touches my heart. It's in the many people who help our loved ones.  Their kind gestures are observed over and over, as they join together to meet every need.  Joy also permeates the atmosphere, whether it is at the friendly pot luck suppers in the mansion, the carefree patio cookouts or just gathering on the sunshine bridge sharing stories and soaking in the rays.  I often remind myself that these events-and so many others- are happening at a long term care facility! Beyond this reality, there's a great knowing that St. Camillus is also a warm home where shared values reflect one family, and where life and love make people feel at home.  The evidence is apparent on the walls filled with happy family pictures and large canvases of bright vivid colors.  It's evindent in the garden that flourished with a variety of flowers and vegetables around an inviting patio. The wonder of watching plants grow was ongoing all summer and the harvest was plenty.  The fresh basil added a delicious taste to scrambled eggs!

The St. Camillus staff deserves praise for their commitment to paving the way for the best in family living.  It's a sign of hope and full of promise for things to come as "culture change" goes forward.  Complimentary comments, from so many others, are heard all the time.  We deeply appreciate the excellence you have earned and that you stand for.  

An enormous thank you to all the special people, Bob and I have come to know and respect.  Some stand out in an extraordinary way by pouring out their best into every day.  Their hard work and positive gentle spirits touch our hearts.  In this season of Thanksgiving, it's a perfect time to say how grateful we are to the dedicated St. Camillus staff.

Rose Gallagher
October 2006

In his book, Shields notes that he learned that the first household was moving to a 24-hour dining schedule just days before it was implemented, as well as the staff's plan to do away with three eight-hour shift scheduling with flex work times. A team leader told him about it in passing.

"I don't remember much about the rest of the conversation because my head was swirling," Shields wrote. "I admit my first reaction was to feel a little stung because I didn't know anything about either issue. And then I thought, 'Well, what have you been wanting for all this time, big boy?'"

Since the staff works with the same residents in the households, they build a bond rarely seen in traditional nursing home settings. Workers know residents' needs, both physical and emotional, more intimately.

And residents know about the staff's personal lives, improving trust and communication.