For Immediate Release

Contact: Duane Girdner, 760-1210

Date: April 29, 2008

UNITED WAY'S ANNUAL DAY OF CARING COMES TO ST. JOHN'S HOME

More than 60 volunteers will brighten the day for elders at St. John's Home, 150 Highland Avenue, on Thursday, May 7 as part of the United Way's annual Day of Caring. Day of Caring is Rochester's single largest volunteer effort. Employees from companies including Xerox Credit Services, Caldwell Manufacturing, ADECCO, Flaherty Funding, and SWBR Architects will take the day off from work to share their time and talents with residents. Several of these companies volunteered at St. John's last year as part of the program and have requested to be assigned to the Home again this year.

Projects and activities within the Home will include baking, games, manicures and ice cream socials. Weather permitting, there will be outings through the day to the gardens at Highland Park and the Lamberton Conservatory.

Liz Zavacki, St. John's director of therapeutic recreation, says the interaction between elders and volunteers will be scheduled with flexibility, giving residents the option to join in group activities or spend one-on-one time in discussions or reminiscing with the volunteers.

St. John's Home is Rochester’s only registered Eden Home, providing a continuum of care for the elderly in Rochester since 1899 as a not-for-profit residential health care facility. Specialty programs include Comfort Care, Rehabilitation, and Alzheimer's/dementia care, as well as long term care, serving a total of 475 residents. St. John's Home also provides services for people who continue to live in their own homes, including Day Break medical and social adult day service programs, and Traditions in Caring, a licensed home health care agency owned in part by St. John's. Affiliated with St. John's Home as part of St. John's Senior Communities are St. John's Meadows and St. John's Foundation.

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