Mount St. Joseph is a Catholic facility and as such, Catholic religious services are available to all Catholic residents on a daily basis. Catholic residents also may belong to Sodality should they desire to do so.

All other residents are welcome to participate in these services should they desire to do so. If our residents desire or their legal direct that they attend services of other faith, the facility will work with them to obtain transportation to the worship centers. We are committed to allowing our residents to experience and grow in a richer, spirtual life when voluntarily pursued by them.

Our psychology department is responsible for all resting of residents. Each resident receives an intelligence test every five years, or more often if warranted. Other psychological testing is performed as needed, and residents receive psychological counseling as needed. The department works closely with our consultant psychiatrist and our consultant psychologist for the mental well-being of all our ladies.

The Social Services Department works closely with residents from the time they apply for admission to the facility until the day rhey are discharged to a less restrictive environment. While residents are here, they meet with them individually or in groups as needed, to help them solve problems and cope with difficulties. Some residents have no families, and Social Services assists these residents in finding visitors who will write and call them, visit them here, and take them out for short visits in the community.

Mount St. Joseph is a health care facility. Most of our residents have medical needs in addition to their developmental disabilities. We have nursing personnel on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to care for these needs.

Our medical director visits the facility at least twice a week, and is on call 24 hours a day for any emergencies. We have a fully equipped dental office for our residents, and a dentist who comes in monthly to care for their needs. Dentists in the area are available for emergency situations.

A podiatrist comes in monthly to care for foot problems. An optometrist visits the facility on a monthly basis, and an ophthalmologist is available as needed.

A psychiatrist comes in monthly for consultation, and is available 24 hours a day for emergency situations. For other emergencies, we are served by the Wauconda paramedics. The nearest hospital, Good Shepherd in Barrington, is a five minute drive from the facility.

We are served by a pharmacy which also serves as consultant on drug usage, and which delivers necessary medications as needed.

Because many of our residents have physical disabilities, they ate in need of special diets. Our dietary consultant meets monthly with our medical director and dietary manager to develop all necessary therapeutic diets needed for good health. Menus are planned to provide variety, and to take into consideration the different seasons of the year.

Music therapy is used as a tool in developing and maintaining skills in all our residents. It allows them to be successful in a non-threatening manner. The music therapists also use music to reduce stress, and as a relaxation aid. We have three handhell choirs; they perform in the community and at nursing homes.

All residents are evaluated at least annually by our Physical Therapy Consultant for possible participation in our gross motor department. This evaluation process includes physical status, motor skills, and ambulation. The department obtains walkers, wheelchairs, and canes, and trains residents in their use.

Our speech therapy department conducts hearing and communications evaluations for each resident annually. In addition, swallowing evaluations are performed as needed. Communication therapy, both individually and in groups, is given all residents who are identified as needing this service. Recommendations for hearing aids are made by this department.

Each resident is evaluated at least annually for possible inclusion in our occupational therapy program. The purpose 0f this program is to develop fine motor and sensory motor skills. The occupational therapy department also provides splints for contractures, and equipment for special needs, such as built up eating utensils.

All residents participate in recreation therapy a minimum of once a week. Programs are based on ability, interests, and needs of each individual. Residents are taken into the community for a variety of outings.

These programs are used to teach fine motor skills, and to develop eye-hand coordination. Equally important, they are geared toward leisure activities for our ladies. Projects in these departments are presented with several levels of difficulty to meet the varying interests and skills of our ladies.

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