by JD BenningSpecial with yeast
OLATHE – For 70 years, Villa St. Francis has provided high-quality aged care to people in the Kansas City Archdiocese in Kansas. On February 7, led by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, it paved the way for further improvements to its facilities and the care it provides.
Funds raised by the Archdiocesan Capital Campaign One Faith, One Family, One Future in Christ are funding the beginning of the improvements, which include updates to the front exterior, new front and rear parking lots, an HVAC system upgrade, and a new wing rehabilitation. The new rehabilitation facilities will allow for a better experience for residents, creating additional private rooms and an additional dining area.
Extra funds have been raised to provide upgrades to other sections of the community, including hallways, residents’ rooms, and common areas.
“I am truly proud of what Villa St. Francis has done throughout its history to provide the best care for all of our residents,” Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann said during the blessing and groundbreaking ceremony. “What we are undertaking today will improve the facility and show our residents how important they are to us. We are delighted that our church can provide this venue and partner with families to help those in need of the quality and extent of care we provide here at Villa St. Francis.”
“We are proud of our employees,” he continued, “and we are especially grateful for the two faith communities that serve here. They lend a special quality to the care here and make the presence of Christ very real and visible to the residents.”
The Villa St. Francis management team is excited to begin this process.
“This critical update will greatly improve our facilities and the care we provide to our residents,” said Jackie Longston, chief operating officer at Villa St. Francis. “Our mission is to provide personalized, resident-centred care. We are one of the few communities in the area that will accept residents regardless of their ability to pay: we are grateful to the Archdiocese for their support of this project and hope we can raise the additional funds to continue improving Villa St. Francesco.”
The facility provides long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, and skilled memory care to the elderly of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Not a strictly Catholic care community, it provides care for people of all religious backgrounds.
For the Catholics entrusted to them, Villa provides a daily mass and a chaplain to provide the sacraments to the residents. It is also the only community in the area staffed by a psychiatrist, cardiologist and pulmonologist.
“I started out as a nurse and when I arrived at Villa St. Francis, I fell in love with this place,” said Christina Osterhaus, director of marketing for Villa. “I am passionate about helping and serving others. And seeing the incredible care our staff of nurses and rehabilitation specialists provide is truly inspiring. I consider it a privilege to be a part of this team and to serve these people, many of whom have incredible histories of love and service.”
Villa St. Francis provides high-quality end-of-life care, memory care, and a rehabilitation venue for seniors, regardless of their background or financial ability. His mission is to implement the love of Christ through his mission of mercy. To find out more, visit the website at: villasf.org.
