Build for the Future - Santa Teresita

Building for the Future

Introduction

Surrounded by the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains lies Santa Teresita, a hidden treasure of beauty, compassion, healing and profound love, dedicated to defending and upholding the dignity of every human person.

Santa Teresita has ministered to the sick of body and spirit for over seventy-five years. “At the Service of the Family for Life,” the Carmelite Sisters at Santa Teresita have fashioned an inviting, welcoming ambiance to all.

Santa Teresita’s philosophy firmly holds that the dignity of the person is always first. Specifically, we care for seniors on the Santa Teresita Campus, where personal growth never stops and life relationships flourish.

Life is really all about transformation, about each one of us becoming the person God created us to be. Throughout our lives, God’s gaze of love upon us heals, transforms, and communicates beauty. Our being is rooted in Divine Love. The relationships we develop as well as all of life’s events contribute to this individual transformation process.

Our mission to be “At the Service of the Family for Life,” recognizes the basic fact that we were created to be in relationship, in communion with God and others. As our relationships transform us, we radiate the beauty our souls have received from God.

Santa Teresita Campus nurtures this culture of life through true companionship, vital care-partnering, along with spontaneity and variety in daily living. Our elders live in close, continuing contact with God, people of all ages, animals and plants. They remain connected to the core realities and joys of life.

Rich Sacramental Life

From the chimes which ring out hymns during the day, to the art masterpieces of master sculptor, Rudolph Vargas gracing the campus, to our St. Joseph Chapel with its “shower of roses” stained glass windows, a serene, peaceful, spiritual atmosphere pervades the campus. Daily Mass and Communion, the availability of our Chaplain and Carmelite Sisters, regular opportunities for Confession and Anointing of the Sick, daily rosary, spiritual classes and lectures, and bible study groups can be a source of spiritual and physical comfort and strength.

Companionship

We all need it. We were made for communion with each other. Our faith teaches us that we experience God through each other.

At Santa Teresita,walkways weave their way in and out of buildings and provide a relaxed and natural environment. Time can be taken to foster authentic relationships throughout the campus. Our onsite Hayden Daycare Center brings joy and interaction between generations, as do our other community outreach projects. Whether through a formal activity, a casual visit, or a spontaneous encounter, our elders are encouraged to share the wisdom they have gained and synthesized from life’s experience, helping pass on lasting values to the younger generations. The young, on the other hand, bring an irreplaceable element of joy to the lives of our elders and experience a reciprocal joy during their times together.

Beyond Caregiving

Going beyond the traditional concept of care-giving, Santa Teresita has developed its own model of healthcare. All true and healthy relationships are mutually beneficial and that is why our residents give as well as receive. A healthcare professional, whether a physician, nurse, nursing assistant, or direct care assistant provides key services and assistance to the resident. Residents, in turn, offer their own unique gifts of personhood. Residents continue to do all within their capacity, which gives them independence and can even decrease in medical complications.

Spontaneity and Variety

If you ask your friends and family, “What is your greatest fear of living in a nursing home?” rarely do you hear an answer such as, “I’m afraid I’ll miss my doctor’s appointment,” or “What if they don’t give me my medication on time?” Usually our fears revolve around the impression that we will experience a loss of freedom or an unsettling boredom that we associate with life away from our familiar environment. Living on the Santa Teresita Campus is fun, life-giving and fulfilling. Residents live full and satisfying lives and engage in the activities of daily living.