The residents of St. Mary’s Assisted Living think of our nurses as Guardian Angels: caring, watchful and ready to step in at a moment’s notice.

While the residents of St. Mary’s don’t require skilled nursing care, most benefit from extra monitoring provided by our staff of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants. Many of our nurses have been at Morris Hall for years – some more than 30.

At St. Mary’s, nurses do everything from helping residents take their medications properly to encouraging them to eat healthfully. They also provide hands-on care for minor ailments before they get worse.

“Our nurses care deeply about our residents and really get to know them and their routines,” says wellness coordinator Kim Barus, RN, who oversees the nursing staff.

“They will notice, for example, if a resident doesn’t come to the dining room as usual or if someone has a change in condition, which may be an early sign of a problem,” says Ms. Barus. “They serve as my eyes and ears around the facility.”

Ms. Barus regularly assesses each resident’s medical status, designs an overall plan of care and works with the nurses to closely but nonintrusively monitor residents’ health and adjust services to fit their individual needs.

“Our residents cherish their independence. Our goal is to help them stay active, vital and able to participate fully in life,” says Ms. Barus. “That is the true definition of wellness.”