by J.D. Benning
Special to The Leaven
OLATHE — Villa St. Francis here has been providing superior health care service to seniors in Kansas City for nearly 80 years.
Now, on April 18, the organization cut the ribbon on a newly renovated physical rehabilitation-to-home wing at the facility.
This critical update at Villa St. Francis will provide person-centered physical rehabilitation space, enabling seniors to improve their quality of life and return to their daily lives.
Preparing to cut the ribbon, Catholic Community Health CEO Brad Heidrick was excited for what this new chapter brings to Villa St. Francis and the CCH continuum of care.
“This is a much-needed improvement to our facility, and I am extremely excited about the future of Villa,” he said. “Not only will this improve the quality of care, but the upgrades to the resident rooms will allow those in our care to feel like they’re truly at home while they’re with us.”
“One thing I’m happy to say that doesn’t require an upgrade is our clinical excellence,” Heidrick continued. “We’re blessed to have 235 team members who are doing their best each day for our residents, their families and our community. They provide top quality care and recognize the dignity in each person that we serve, and ensure that all of their needs are met — mind, body and soul.”
The wing will feature 15 private suites, as well as a private dining area where residents are able to order their meals off a menu, ensuring that their dietary needs are met and provide them with a personalized experience.
In addition to physical therapy, Villa St. Francis — with support from Summit Care — will offer occupational therapy, speech therapy, IV therapy, wound care and a variety of other services, many of which are covered by traditional Medicare benefits or insurance.
Each rehabilitation room features state-of-the-art technologies that will enable the Summit Care team to expediently serve each person, allowing them to get on their feet as quickly as they are able.
“It’s really about person-centered care,” said Kristi Bross, chief operating officer of Summit Care. “We don’t want to provide a one-size-fits-all program, but rather one that addresses the specific needs and desires of the individual, allowing them to return to their daily routine. We also have ultrasound and a variety of other technologies that make the process one that is more enjoyable than it is demanding.”
Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann led the ceremony with a prayer and blessed the wing and rooms that will serve seniors for years to come. He also expressed his gratitude for everything that happens at Villa St. Francis.
“We’re very proud of the ministry at Villa St. Francis, particularly to their care for each person who is made in the image and likeness of God,” he said. “What we celebrate today is the coming together of a lot of sacrifices that individuals and donors have made because they wanted to invest in this building, but more importantly, invest in the residents that are here and in this staff, made up of dedicated laypeople, religious Sisters and our full-time chaplain, Father Karl [Good], that does the healing work that Jesus called upon his disciples to do.”
While the residential wing at Villa St. Francis is a new development, the facility had already been providing quality physical rehabilitation. Families have marveled at the quality of the care their loved ones have received.
“My mom was here for rehab,” explained a family member of one former patient. “There are so many people around. It is very well-staffed and the fact that she could go to [Mass] every morning was very comforting to us and her.”
The rehabilitation-to-home wing is now officially open and Villa St. Francis is excited to start serving seniors in need. To learn more about this program, go to the CCH website at: catholiccommunityhealth.org.
In addition to short-term physical rehabilitation, Villa St. Francis also offers daily Mass, access to the sacraments, daily activities and much more.
Villa St. Francis is part of Catholic Community Health, the archdiocesan ministry dedicated to serving seniors in need throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area in both Kansas and Missouri.
CCH also provides home care and is Kansas City’s only Catholic hospice.
