By Christina McDonough Hunt
On the corner of 68th and Troost, nestled in the Brookside neighborhood, is the resort-style community of St. Anthony’s Senior Living.
St. Anthony’s Senior Living has offered independent senior living since November 2019. In October 2020, the assisted living and memory care facility was completed.
The independent living facility features an amenity-rich lifestyle that encourages community with friends while offering maintenance-free accommodations. Independent living residents can enjoy luxurious one- and-two bedroom apartments with floor to ceiling windows, a full-sized kitchen, washer and dryer, walk-in closets, a fireplace, and more. Each floor features a sunroom where residents can socialize with friends. The residents can also take advantage of the fitness center, salon, restaurant, pub, dog park, community garden, library, and daily mass.
St. Anthony’s Senior Living community is also helping to ease the burdens for caregivers with its newly built assisted living and memory care facility, allowing for respite [temporary or short-term care] and long term living.
“Taking care of a loved one can be hard on those who have become caregivers, especially if they have never held that role,” said Director of Business Development Mark Ledom, Jr. “We now can offer a place that allows them to get a break and to know their loved one is in a safe place.”
The 55,000 sq ft single story assisted living and memory care facility offers 24/7 care in a secured facility with highly trained staff who specialize in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care. It includes 30 assisted living apartments with a small kitchen and 51 memory care apartments. Each apartment is equipped with an oversized bathroom and living space. There are 2 outdoor areas, one for assisted living and one for memory care, and a small, secured outdoor walking path. The lobby features a large aquarium for guests and residents to enjoy, and the two dining rooms host residents for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day with chef-prepared meals. A salon is on site for residents to have their hair and nails done.
In addition to the amenities, St. Anthony’s includes life enrichment programs for their residents with activities that focus on social, intellectual, religious, and physical activities that are meant to keep the residents happier and healthier.
One of the most unique features offered in the memory care area are the life skills stations. Life skills stations are areas around the facility that mimic items or places that residents may find familiar from their past. They include stations like a sewing area with an old-style sewing machine, a vanity with antique clothing and jewelry, a tool bench, and more. The idea behind these stations is to stimulate “meaningful moments of engagement” for the residents.
St. Anthony’s Senior Living Catholic community offers mass two times a week for their assisted living and memory care residents, and a Bible study is led by one of the independent living residents, Rosary.
St. Anthony’s is owned and operated by one Kansas City family, and according to Ledom, Jr. that is unique.
“Many facilities like this are corporate owned,” he said. “St. Anthony’s is privately owned by my dad, Mark Ledom, Sr.”
Ledom, Jr. says that he has been with St. Anthony’s since day one and has enjoyed “watching it all come to life and grow” and says that the best part is the relationships he’s been able to build with the residents and his staff.
“We have 70 employees and we want to make sure that they are happy and feel appreciated,” Ledom, Jr. commented. “Keeping our staff and residents satisfied does well for us all.”
For more information, visit stanthonyskc.com.