The Sarah Community, a service provider of long term care and retirement options for older adults, celebrated it’s Founder’s Day by breaking ground on its new Anna House skilled nursing facility in Bridgeton.

Representatives from the founding congregations – Franciscan Sisters of Mary, Daughters of Charity, Religious of the Sacred Heart, Sisters of Loretto, and School Sisters of Notre Dame – grabbed shovels and hard hats to complete the groundbreaking ceremony. The $17 million construction project being handled by BSI Constructors, Hercules Construction, The Lawrence Group and St. Andrew’s Management Services, is expected to be completed by next winter.

In January 1996, the dream of the founding congregations was to create a quality of life for their sisters and lay persons from the St. Louis community where holistic life would include physical, intellectual and spiritual care in a home-like setting. The Sarah Community offers retirement living, assisted living and skilled nursing and with the new construction the campus will all be under one roof. The addition of a new chapel will also allow all on the campus to pray and worship together.

The new skilled nursing care facility, Anna House will feature small households with home-like appeal, including more privacy, larger bedrooms, kitchens and hearth rooms in each household and greater offerings of The Sarah Community’s unique, person-centered care.

“As we celebrate the founding of The Sarah Community, we can also look forward to these enhancements. The new Anna House being built on this lot means that all three facilities of The Sarah Community will be connected in one location. We believe that this will strengthen the community spirit of caring that exists today,” said Sr. Susan Scholl, FSM, Board President of The Sarah Community Board of Directors. Updates on the new Anna House construction can be seen at http://TheSarahCommunity.org/Anna-House-Updates.

The Sarah Community also celebrated its Mission Alive Person of the Year for 2011, giving the award to Linda Beard of Overland, an employee who has worked at Anna House for nearly a decade, showing love and compassion to residents while sharing joy and happiness. “I love taking care of the residents. They’re always saying thank you and praying for you,” said Beard. “I love the faith-based aspect of working at The Sarah Community. I have enjoyed every minute of working here and taking care of the sisters.”

ABOUT THE SARAH COMMUNITY

The Sarah Community, founded in 1997 through the collaboration of five Catholic religious congregations – the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Franciscan Sisters of Mary, Religious of the Sacred Heart, School Sisters of Notre Dame and the Sisters of Loretto – provides quality service for the long term care and retirement needs of their members and the general public with respect, compassion and a spirit of welcoming hospitality. The non-profit organization was developed and managed by St. Andrew’s Management Services.

ABOUT ST. ANDREW’S MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Shaping environments that assist older adults to live life to the fullest since 1981, St. Andrew’s Management Services is a premiere management and consulting firm providing innovative, high quality, cost efficient services to clients who serve older adults through housing, community-based services and health care. STAMS operates as part of the St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors System, which helps seniors, their families and caregivers find answers while addressing the needs of aging populations, helping them Worry Less.

Our Mission: Empower elders and their caregivers through choices and options that foster a vital life.