dl-saint-joseph-exterior-scaled.jpgSt. Joseph's Home of Springfield has begun a major capital campaign to construct a 28-bed residence dedicated to the care of men and women with various forms of dementia. Total cost of the project is estimated at $4.75 million.
Arranged in a V-shape to form two "neighborhoods" of 14 people each, the residence will be licensed to provide round-the-clock nursing care. The residence will include 20 private rooms and four rooms for roommates or couples.
"Our research into the Springfield eldercare community confirms that the number of people with various types of dementia is growing rapidly," said Franciscan Sister Judith Morris, administrator. "This type of care - specializing in the needs of people with dementia within a licensed nursing facility - is becoming a major part of our mission. This expansion will help us meet a very real need for families at a critical moment of decision."
Sister Judith said the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception who sponsor the home believe "it is the right of every person to live his or her later years to the fullest and with dignity." St. Joseph's Home admits men and women regardless of religious affiliation.
The project, designed by Springfield architectural firm fwai, will enclose approximately 20,000 square feet of space. In addition to the resident rooms, each neighborhood will include a dining and activity room, parlor, lounge, nurse's station, laundry and linen rooms, a nourishment center/breakfast nook, medical supply closet and utility areas. A secure, screened porch also is proposed for each wing.
The two neighborhoods will share a new entrance and an enclosed garden, allowing access to the outdoors in safety and security. Several family gathering spaces will be included, and natural light from roof windows will orient residents to the rhythms of the day.
The two new neighborhoods will be connected to the east side of the home's main building through a new family gathering area.
Construction is scheduled to begin in June or July.
St. Joseph's Home was founded in 1903 by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception from Peoria, according to development director Terri Hempstead.
"The sisters live at the home and supervise every aspect of the residents' care," Hempstead said. "Because of the sisters, the home has a unique, warm and family-like atmosphere that offers residents dignity, safety and comfort."
Hempstead said the home's last major construction project was the infirmary, or round building, completed in 1967. Over time, that building evolved into a 21-bed long-term care residence for people with dementia, but it was never designed for that purpose.
Hempstead said the new residence will replace the current round building, which will be used for nonresidential purposes until the land is needed for future purposes.
"The round building has design and structural deficiencies that are far beyond simple renovation," she said.
St. Joseph's Home receives no state or federal support, Sister Judith said. "St. Joseph's Home has been supported by resident fees and the kindness of our benefactors for 105 years. Now, in our first major capital campaign in 80 years, we are asking for the community's help in this significant renewal project," Sister Judith said.
Lead gifts and pledges already have raised $2.8 million for the project, with just under $2 million remaining to reach the fund-raising goal.
For more information, or to make a contribution to the campaign, contact Hempstead at St. Joseph's Home, 3306 S. Sixth Street Road, Springfield, IL 62703. Call her at (217) 529-5596 or visit the Web site at www.saintjosephshome.org.