By Therese Fink Meyerhoff
In January 2023, more than 60 senior members of the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province moved from Jesuit Hall, near the campus of Saint Louis University, to St. Ignatius Hall in north St. Louis County. The new community is an addition to an existing senior living facility, funded in part by generous donors to the province. Many months of consultation, planning and preparation preceded this move, but even good planning can’t overcome human nature. Possessions were not the only things the Jesuits had to sort through; at a time of life when change can be hard, many of the men had to deal with anxiety, fear of the unfamiliar and a general letting go. Family and Ignatian Volunteer Corps members assisted with the sorting and packing of material goods. But it was the nursing staff that helped the men with their emotional burdens. They listened without judgment and responded with patience and compassion.
Fortunately for the senior Jesuits and all who care about them, several of these caregivers made the move with them to St. Ignatius Hall. Seven remarkable caregivers make up the core of the staff that looks after senior members of this province.
“We are so lucky to have them; they are just dedicated to the men,” said Eileen Croghan, provincial assistant for healthcare. “They were very patient with them getting settled into their new rooms – they have the patience of saints sometimes. As people age, they get more set in their ways. So, we focus on helping the men feel settled and comfortable.”
The stability of the nursing staff has helped ease the transition. The core staff at Jesuit Hall had an average tenure of 10-15 years. The healthcare staff who came from Jesuit Hall and continue to care for the men at St. Ignatius Hall includes Director of Health and Wellness Cyndi Stotler, Christina Crocker, Renee Fields, Shannon Schwaab, Ebony Taylor and Leslie Williams. Director of Nursing Taiyonna Blackmon joined the team more recently and fits as though she has always been part of the group.
“The move was hard on the men, and it continues to be different even now,” said Christina, who has worked with the Jesuits since 2012. “So, we listen, and we watch out for their mental health.”
“One of the reasons many of us stayed is that we know we can give excellent care all the time,” Cyndi said, noting the support she receives from the province. “To be able to do everything that somebody needs to take care of them is an honor. We meet the men where they are and provide individualized care that far exceeds anything they would get in any other long-term care facility. My hope is that we’d be able to care for our own parents – and somebody would care for us – that way.”
St. Ignatius Hall is the largest community in the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province. Like any Jesuit community, it has a superior, shared meals, regular Mass and community meetings. It was planned for 65 men, most of whom were expected to be fairly independent. But when the decision was made to close the St. Alphonsus Rodriguez infirmary in Grand Coteau, Louisiana, rooms filled with men with more acute health needs. At one point, 71 senior Jesuits resided in the community, its guest rooms and a couple of rented rooms in the adjacent retirement community.
“Many of the men had serious health concerns, but the caregivers were just great with the situation, even though it added to their workload,” Croghan said. “The Jesuits recognize that and appreciate it. These caregivers work hard, but to them, it’s not just a job; it’s a vocation.”
Father Steve Kimmons, SJ, superior of St. Ignatius Hall, agrees. “I think we’re just so fortunate to have the caregivers that we have now,” he said. “They don’t see their work here as a job; it’s part of their vocation.”
Noting that the caregivers have to balance the ever-changing needs of 65-70 Jesuits, Fr. Kimmons said, “I feel like the healthcare staff are my colleagues; they know and care about the men so much. They have the ultimate amount of patience. I feel blessed, and I think the men are very fortunate.”
A Team Approach to Caregiving
With the move came a new approach to caregiving. Each Jesuit in the community has both a case manager and a Jesuit healthcare representative who know exactly what his healthcare needs are. The three registered nurses – Stotler, Schwaab and Crocker – serve as case managers. Many of the men schedule regular appointments with their case manager to check their vitals and catch up. In addition, the whole staff meets every other week to discuss the men’s wellbeing. This includes both the caregivers and the community’s administrators, Fr. Kimmons and Fr. Michael Harter, SJ, the community minister. Croghan and Peggy McAuliffe, the province’s healthcare associate, also participate when they aren’t on the road visiting Jesuits throughout the province.
“We all give input about how to help each man. We talk about the men who might be having some kind of difficulty or medical condition,” Fr. Kimmons said. “It’s important to get the caregivers’ professional input, but on the other hand, they are not present at dinner, so they don’t see what I see. So, it has become a team approach.”
Having three in-house doctors also helps to ensure a continuity of care.
Since the move to St. Ignatius Hall, the nursing staff has received additional training to handle care for the more acute needs, like IVs and tube feeding. This ensures the men can stay in their own rooms, in their own community, rather than moving to another facility where they might not receive the personalized care the staff at St. Ignatius Hall strives to provide.
Taiyonna Blackmon joined the healthcare team in 2023. She meets with the Jesuits to discuss their care and oversees all the nursing staff – a total of about 52 caregivers. She educates the caregivers on both nursing topics and on the Jesuits themselves.
“We have weekly huddles,” Taiyonna said. “We discuss scheduling, any changes, any admissions. When new Jesuits come to the community, we learn about them prior to their arrival to plan their care.”
Except for Stotler, the caregivers are employed by Delmar Gardens, the province’s partner in senior care. When hiring new staff, the province and Delmar Gardens work together. “We make sure that we have the perfect candidate who will be a good fit here, not just for the men but also for the nursing team,” Blackmon said, emphasizing the close working relationships among the caregivers.
“This is their home,” said Ebony Taylor, who has cared for Jesuits for 22 years. “We teach new staff how we expect the Jesuits to be treated – and each other, too. Everybody cares about one another. It doesn’t seem like work.”
Leslie Williams is the jack-of-all-trades for the community. Officially, he’s the transporter – assigned to drive men to appointments and outings – and responsible for the inventory of supplies. But in practice, he helps the Jesuits however he can.
“Leslie is a real trouper,” said Fr. Jim Burshek, SJ, who moved to St. Ignatius Hall last year. “He will do almost anything you need. He keeps the supplies up to date and shops for people’s needs – and wants. He’s really kind of an ombudsman, and incredibly patient. He genuinely cares for us.”
“They ask me for anything they need,” Leslie said, including help with technology like phones, laptops and tablets. “I like the individual time that I get to spend with some of the guys. They care about us. Many have become friends.”
Christina Crocker also appreciates the benefits of accompanying the men outside the community. The time away from nursing responsibilities is well spent, she says, because it helps the caregivers get to know each Jesuit a little better. “We get to see a different side of them when we have them out,” she noted. “They’re a little livelier, more like their old selves – animated and just full of knowledge.”
Spending one-on-one time with the Jesuits is by design. “We want the caregivers to spend some time sitting quietly in the room, talking to them, understanding who they are, getting to know them, thinking of them as individuals,” Croghan said.
Renee Fields and Ebony Taylor are certified nursing assistants who moved from Jesuit Hall. They care for the Jesuits who need assistance with routine activities like bathing and dressing.
Acknowledging that the Jesuits are human and therefore not always at their best, Ebony admitted that “the cranky ones” are her favorites. “Because I know underneath it all, they’re not like that, and they’re speaking out of frustration or maybe some anxiety,” she says. “It’s a challenge to me to get past that and make them laugh.”
Renee admires the sense of community and fraternal care she witnesses at St. Ignatius Hall. “There’s a connection that the Jesuits have with each other that makes you want to take care of them even more,” she said. “They care about each other and look out for each other. If you don’t know something about one of the men, one of the others can tell you their history. It helps you to understand who he is now. It feels like a family. It’s just a blessing to be able to work with people who know God, who really work every day for God.”
“I tell the staff that we are blessed to work here,” Stotler said. “There’s no greater place to practice nursing than here, because you know people will support you. The people who work for the Jesuits feel like they are cared for and respected. We genuinely like our jobs.”
Shannon Schwab began working at Jesuit Hall while still in nursing school – more than 30 years ago. “I have never woken up one day thinking, ‘I don’t want to go to work today,’” she says. “I have always enjoyed them. They are kind and thankful; they offer to pray for us. It’s just a nice feeling to take care of such good men.”
“When I first came to work at Jesuit Hall, I saw how the coworkers cared about each other and advocated for the men. They cared about the men and that’s what made me stay,” Ebony said. “It’s almost like family, how we care for them – and how they care about us, too.”
“We love them like they are our own fathers or brothers,” Cyndi said. “We care for them as though they were ours. We hold these men near and dear to us.”
Hear more from Jesuit Fr. James Burshek, SJ, about his transition to St. Ignatius Hall here.
Image at top: Director of Jesuit Health and Wellness Cyndi Stotler and Christina Crocker visit with Fr. J.J. Mueller, SJ, at St. Ignatius Hall in Florissant, Missouri. After more than 30 years as a theology professor, Fr. Mueller is now assigned to a ministry of prayer.
