In October of 2024, Misericordia took a proactive approach to mandate masking in resident care areas or when working directly with residents, effective November 1, 2024, through a tentative date of February 1, 2025.
This decision was based on a spike in COVID-19 we saw among both residents and staff in the months of November and December 2023.
Results of data monitoring of COVID-19 incidence in November and December 2024, as compared to those months in 2023, demonstrate an 86% reduction in COVID-19 infection amongst residents and an 87% reduction in COVID-19 infection amongst staff.
This data demonstrates a positive result in our attempts to reduce the occurrence of COVID-19 among residents and staff. Additionally, the CDC reported recently that seasonal influenza activity continues to increase and is elevated across most of the country. For these reasons, mandatory masking will be EXTENDED until March 1, 2025.
Please continue to reinforce compliance with masking within your areas to support all residents, staff, and families/visitors.
Misericordia is one of the greatest blessings in our lives, and we are pleased to start the New Year with an informative MFA General Membership meeting. As always, we are asking that every family “attend” and become more informed at this meeting.
To keep everyone safely indoors during our Chicago winter weather and to make sure everyone is protected from any viruses making the rounds, this will be a virtual meeting. It will be pre-recorded and available for viewing on YouTube. The meeting will be available starting at 11:00 am on January 26th. It will remain available for later viewing.
Our first meeting of 2025 will be highlighted by:
Click the button below, which will become active at 11:00 am on January 26th, to view the meeting.
We are grateful for the loving and vibrant community of Misericordia, which has been steadfast in caring for our residents. Thank you to each of you for volunteering, attending holiday events, and for your generous support of our holiday staff fund.
We look forward to launching the new year with you on January 26th!
Deborah and Scott Early
MFA Chairs
Did you know Misericordia has a horticultural program? You may have heard we have a greenhouse, but wait, there's so much more! Click here to watch a video and read below to see everything that's going on in our garden areas on campus.
Video credit: Royce Butler
As part of strengthening our mission, Misericordia proudly serves as an active member of Together for Choice (TFC), a national organization that advocates for the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) "to live, work, and thrive in a community or setting of their choice." TFC recently spotlighted Misericordia, which will host the 2025 TFC Conference.
Click here to watch us in a conversation with TFC about our community, the services provided, and our ongoing efforts to provide a continuum of care for children and adults with I/DD.
Click here to read the Campus Connections 2024 Year in Review!
Stay up-to-date with all of the information, training, and support that Misericordia provides to our wonderful staff!
To view previous Campus Connections click on Misericordia Info in the menu bar at the top of the page, and then click on Campus Connections.
Dear Co-Workers and Families,
Though I do not have much news, I wanted to write to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. I am so grateful to all of you who believe in Misericordia and show it in so many ways. We could not do all that we do without our wonderful Staff and Volunteers. It is amazing how life is so good for our residents. I am sure families appreciate our staff even more when they have everyone home for these long weekends.
We continue to fight with the City over Thome Avenue. We are so disappointed with the way they stole our Handicapped parking outside of the main family entrance. Pure stupidity. We will continue to work to rectify all of this as we pursue the purchase of Thome Avenue.
To My Dear Friends and Family,
Since I voiced my decision to retire from our beloved Misericordia Home last month, sitting down and putting pen to paper (does anyone still do that) has been most difficult for me.
Shortly after my 50th anniversary of service, I was asked to be the first Executive Director of the Misericordia Foundation. I was to serve alongside my lifetime mentor and friend, Sister Rosemary, who would become Chairman of the Board.
Dear Families and Sibs,
As all of you know first-hand, Misericordia is an amazing home and community. I have had the privilege of being a part of the Misericordia family for many years. I know your "kids" or "sibs" and I know a lot of families. It has been a journey with a lot of “highs” and a few “lows” and always interesting. Your family members here are so special to me and to all the staff. Getting to know you, the families has enriched my life a hundredfold. The very best part of my role was being in Social Service. It is how I connected with families, heard the stories and hopefully offered some support.
I was always a little worried when Sister Rosemary met new families. When talking with families she saw their need and knew resources were scarce. I knew then another home would be built! Her vision prompted the growth both on and off campus and kept us all busy. Quality in all aspects of the resident’s life was of utmost importance. We were able to do this because our philosophy of sharing in the care of our residents with the families and they embraced this philosophy and have always been there for us. Our staff over the years have been amazing. They are dedicated to the residents and want what is best for them always.
Stay up-to-date with all of the information, training, and support that Misericordia provides to our wonderful staff!
To view Campus Connections click on Misericordia Info in the menu bar at the top of the page, and then click on Campus Connections.
Our fall MFA General Membership Meeting was well attended and we were given valuable information from Father Jack and senior staff about current and future initiatives and plans.
The MFA donated $1,245,000, the proceeds from Benefit '24, to the Misericordia Foundation, thanks to the hard work and dedication of Holly Jennings, Fundraising Chair, Ellen Malone and Kay Lunkes, Benefit Chairs, and the enthusiastic participation of so many MFA members.
We saw an exciting video that introduced the plan for our all-new Benefit '25.
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