Leo Center for Caring part of St. Ann’s Community

Compassionate hospice care is not for the faint of heart. It takes grit, deep empathy, and creative communication; with those characteristics in place, it can bring immeasurable satisfaction. For proof, look no further than the Leo Center for Caring, the hospice and palliative care center at St. Ann’s Community. Staff at the center guide patients through their end-of-life experiences with dignity, privacy, and meaning while comforting their family members and close friends.

The Leo Center is a fully functional and specialized hospice care center that has been solely operated by St. Ann’s for six years. Previously, some services were contracted to outside providers; the change allowed St. Ann’s to bring the center completely in line with its 150-year tradition of compassionate elder care. The center has its own medical director, ensuring that attention is focused strictly on the needs of its patients. The director is assisted by nurse practitioners and certified nursing assistants experienced in hospice and palliative care. Dietitians, social workers, and music therapists round out the team, making personalized attention a core part of the patient experience.

Round-the-clock pastoral care is another crucial aspect of the Leo Center philosophy. Whatever an individual’s beliefs or cultural tradition, the spiritual support of the pastoral care team can help them find peace and comfort.

A resident enrichment advocate at the Leo Center engages residents with activities that bring positive energy and reduce stress. Through one-on-one meetings, the advocate determines each patient’s likes and interests then creates activities that have meaning and purpose.

A designated entrance, parking area and elevator, all separate from the rest of St. Ann’s, ensure privacy and differentiate the Leo Center from others in the hospice realm. Twelve newly renovated private rooms and a spacious overnight guest suite provide patients and their families the peace and comfort they desire. There’s also a full kitchen and dining area so families can prepare and share meals while remaining close to their loved one. A meditation area, outdoor terrace and well-appointed living space add to the feeling of comfort, allowing families to rest and recharge.

It all adds up to a genuine atmosphere of compassionate care that prioritizes comfort and the emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life.

“Our care and love toward people set us apart. Every resident is a part of our large family,” states Nikki Tyler, BSW, senior admissions officer, St. Ann’s Community.

The Leo Center’s compassionate end-of-life care is available to elders already living within St. Ann’s Community as well as those from the greater community. All receive personalized hospice or palliative care in an atmosphere that ensures dignity, sensitivity, and comfort