Philosophy Statement
The philosophy of St Catherine’s Village is based on the teachings of Christ and His church. Promoting “Respect for Life” and caring for those who are sick and injured is the visible, public continuation of Christ’s healing ministry. Just as Christ came to make the Father known and loved, so we, through works of mercy seek to extend this mission.
At St. Catherine’s Village, we recognize that each resident must receive comprehensive care. This embraces not only the physical needs, but also the spiritual, mental, emotional and social needs. Our ministry faces the reality of death with the confidence of faith. Effective management of physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering for residents and their families are fundamental to the healing ministry.
We respect life, a precious gift from God. We recognize that each resident must receive comprehensive care of proportionate means. Proportionate means are those that in the judgement of the resident offer a reasonable hope of benefit and do not entail excessive burden. The duty to preserve life is not absolute. A person may forgo extraordinary means or disproportionate means of preserving life. Hydration and nutrition are considered disproportionate means when they bring no comfort to a person who is imminently dying or when they cannot be assimilated by a person’s body.
Reflection on the innate dignity of human life in all its dimensions has created St. Catherine’s Village’s four distinct care levels, independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer’s personal care, and twenty four hour nursing care. All residents, in all areas of living, should receive loving care with psycho-social and spiritual support and appropriate remedies for pain and other symptoms so they can live life fully, richly, with comfort and dignity until the time of natural death. Sensitivity and supportive care are the key elements when preparing an individual and their families for transition. The focus is to provide supportive psychosocial services that enable the resident to reach his/her own decision based upon the recommendation of his/her physician, in conjunction with family and administration to seek an alternative level of care.
As a subsidiary of St. Dominic Health Services, a broad spectrum of care and services are available through all of the corporate entities. Professionals with a multitude of talents cooperate to provide care. Every employee and staff member contributes professional competence and loyalty to promote health and healing.
Through wellness and health promotion programs, and the provision of health education opportunities based upon current needs, St. Catherine’s Village continues to preserve and improve the quality of life and health status of our residents. To live life to the fullest and maximize one’s total potential physically, mentally, socially, spiritually and educationally is the programs’ focus. All residents are offered recreational and planned activities on a daily basis. It is St. Catherine’s Village’s philosophy to make available every tool and component possible to enhance holistic health, healing and wellness at St Catherine’s Village.
