A collaboration with the U of A College of Nursing created opportunities for Elders to Buddy Up with students. The Arizona Nursing Inclusive Excellence (ANIE) Program provided iPads for Zoom chats with our Elders during June and July. This was the first Zoom experience for all of the Elders. Student surveys gave the program high praise. “It allowed me to think about answers to ask and gain a lot more experience in a patent care setting." “It was truly amazing!”  “I did not understand how rich older people's lives were. It made me interested to talk with my grandparents about their history.” For the Elders, they report it was comforting to have an outside friend now. They were proud to have contributed to the education of the students. Students created…

Congresswoman Kirkpatrick Recognizes St Luke’s Home CEO “Congresswoman Kirkpatrick would like to recognize you as one of her heroes this week for all of the work you do as the CEO of St. Luke’s Home. We appreciate all of the hard work you have put into assisting low-income Elders with their living situations. We also acknowledge the amount of effort you have put into ensuring the safety and well-being of the Elders and the staff, despite the extra expense and financial stress it has put on the organization. “We want to thank you for your diligence in studying the effects of the pandemic and noting how profoundly it could wipe out assisted living communities. The research you conducted that prompted you to review CDC recommendations, as well as your swift…

  St Luke’s Home Newsletter July 2020 CEO Update A few months ago I began updating friends and families about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I took much pride in sharing our early restrictions, compassionate interventions, stringent cleaning processes, and being free of the virus. From those early moments, I have taken great satisfaction in our transparency. This will continue. Despite our best efforts, I am humbled to share that we encountered the Home’s first exposure of COVID-19. Immediately after receiving the news of the exposure, we took prompt measures and tested all the Elders and re-tested all staff. From that exercise, all results came back negative. I am proud of our team and our current practices that indicate the exposure did not spread. Today, everyone is healthy. Moving…

  St Luke’s Home Newsletter June 2020 CEO Update Today represents day 92 of St Luke’s Home restriction from the greater Tucson Community. Every day our essential workers come to work and care for the Elders and the Home. As I began my CEO update, I realized what I wanted to say about these essential workers is best captured by two of our Elders: “Thank you for your service” We say this to the men and women that defend our country. Now we say this to you for defending our lives. You might not be dodging bullets, but you are beyond a doubt putting your lives in danger to keep our home as safe as you possibly can. Since we moved into this place you have shown us your concern…

It was a beautiful, sunny Thursday morning as Elders and Staff cheered and welcomed over 60 vehicles filled with friends, families, volunteers, and supporters of the St Luke’s Home. Balloons, posters, and signs cheered our Elders as well as our parade participants! Horns were honked, cheers rose up, waves and blown kisses were the norm. The parade was led by the Tucson Police Department followed by Parade Marshall Council Member Paul Durham. Thank you to the Classic Chevy Club of Tucson for joining our parade! The parade brought many smiles and happy hearts as these friends of St Luke’s Home, both human and canine, came to send their love and well wishes to the Elders here! We even made the KOLD13 evening News! We are stars! Click here to watch…

St Luke's Home Postpones Silver Chef Culinary Competition & Cancels 101st Baile de Gracias Dear Friends, Thank you for the outpouring of support regarding the protections St Luke’s Home is implementing during the threat posed by COVID-19. St Luke’s Home believes the safety, health, and well-being of our Elders and Staff are our number one priority, yet we also care about you. To cautiously manage this fast-developing situation, we are postponing the First Annual Silver Chef Culinary Competition until later in the year. We are also regretfully canceling the 101st Baile de Gracias on April 4th, 2020. We understand that many of you bought tickets and donated generously to these events. At this time, we are offering refunds on ticket purchases and event-specific contributions. However, as St Luke’s Home works diligently to protect…

March 11, 2020 Dr. Linda Hollis, St. Luke’s Home CEO, met with Staff and the Elders to reiterate: St Luke’s Home believes the safety, health, and well-being of Elders and Staff are our number one priority. There have been no cases at the Home to date; however, we are taking the threat posed by COVID-19 extremely seriously. Effective March 11, 2020: 1)       We are temporarily restricting family members, volunteers, vendors, friends, and visitors access into St. Luke’s Home. Necessary visits by medical personnel will be screened. 2)       Staff are more than happy to make arrangements to help you keep in touch with your loved ones via phone calls and/or electronic communications. 3)       We are canceling Elder field trips and activities outside of the facility and ask that you…