Putting Our Lives in Order: Hospice and End-of-Life Care

Michael E. McRae
President & CEO, St. Ann’s Community
June 2018

Sometimes a person’s life is better defined by standards of dignity and quality than by the pages of a calendar.

When a loved one is at the end of their days, it can be difficult to know what to do. We know we want them to be comfortable. We want them to be surrounded by people who care about them. We want them to know that they are loved.

We want to do everything we can to honor them and ensure their final days are ones of peace and dignity.

Where do we turn when our loved one has reached that point on their journey? When medical treatment is no longer an option, hospice care may be the answer.

“Hospice endeavors to make the transition from life to death as comfortable and easy as possible. Individual care plans are developed to ease both physical and emotional pain and to meet spiritual needs if desired. This can help the patient and family ‘put their lives in order’ and make the last stage of life very meaningful and intimate.” (Agingcare.com)

At St. Ann’s Community, we are proud to offer hospice and palliative care to the greater Rochester community at the Leo Center for Caring. Opened in 2012 and still operating today, the Leo Center provides a peaceful atmosphere that ensures dignity, sensitivity, and comfort when it is needed most.

Where do we turn when our loved one has reached that point on their journey? When medical treatment is no longer an option, hospice care may be the answer.

Nestled on the top floor of the Wegman Care Center on our Irondequoit campus, the Leo Center features 10 private rooms for patients in quiet, comfortable surroundings. Amenities like a kitchen and lounge area make it easy for families to spend time together, sharing meals and memories.

Most importantly, the Leo Center is staffed by a team of medical professionals, pastoral care providers, and specially trained volunteers who are skilled in end-of-life care.

Here’s what one family had to say:
“The Leo Center for Caring has the most compassionate, caring, wonderful staff members! My mother recently passed away there and I couldn’t be more pleased with the way the entire staff treated her and our family. Every moment was filled with understanding, honesty, and attention. When I think back on my mom’s passing, part of that story will include the way the staff handled her final days, hours, and moments. Thank you for making this time and my mom’s journey so much easier to deal with.”

We take great pride in having that kind of impact at one of the most difficult times any family can face.

Hospice care providers like those at the Leo Center can support you through the process and make the end-of-life experience for your loved one and your family a meaningful one.