ST EDMONDS HOME FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN
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Mission Statement
Inspired by love and supporting the dignity and quality of life for each child, skilled professional staff at St Edmond’s Home provide an exceptional holistic outcome oriented plan of care for children with intellectual and physical disabilities. We offer a broad spectrum of medical/nursing and therapeutic services to assist each child in achieving their greatest intellectual, physical and social potential. The children of St Edmond’s Home are a reflection of God’s love and their lives are immeasurably enriched by the tender and compassionate care of all of our St Edmond’s family.
About This Cause
St. Edmond’s Home for Children is a well-regarded special care facility founded in 1916 and is currently home to 44 children with a range of intellectual, physical and developmental disabilities. Highly skilled staff comprising direct care professionals, therapists, nurses, social workers, a dietician and others carry on St. Edmond’s tradition of caring and working together to form a “circle of care” around each child. Our residents, due to the severity and complexity of their disabilities and medical conditions, are no longer able to be cared for at home. All of our residents require 24 hour nursing care. St. Edmond’s Home is one of a very limited number state-wide facilities that provide services to children with profound intellectual and physical disabilities. In addition to multiple disabilities our residents are also challenged with numerous chronic health problems. Chronic health problems include but are not limited to: cerebral palsy (CP), seizure disorders, encephalopathy, scoliosis, and various genetic disorders which render them extremely vulnerable to medical complications. Currently, 81% of our children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy, 58% have seizure disorders, and 51% of the children require tube feeding to meet their nutritional requirements. Over 90% of our children are unable to move without the use of a wheelchair or walker, and all of the children face the additional challenges of speech, hearing and/or visual impairments. Due to the acute medical needs of the children our top priority is their health, and we have in place an outstanding pediatric nursing program. When health is stabilized therapists work together to ensure that the children in our care enjoy the highest quality of life. To successfully meet that challenge, St. Edmond's provides twenty-four hour pediatric disabilities nursing care in conjunction with Consulting Physicians; Dietician/Nutritionist Services; Social Services; Physical Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Speech/Language and Hearing Therapy; Music Therapy; Aquatic Therapy; Pet Therapy and Recreational Therapy. Our recreational program provides sensory stimulation and social experiences to enrich the children’s lives and enhance their ability to connect meaningfully with others. Community outings have included the Philadelphia Zoo, New Jersey seashore, Camden Aquarium, New York City and even trips to Disney World! We help the children celebrate birthdays and holidays, and our Social Services Department works diligently to foster family involvement and interfamily friendships. Unlike most of the pediatric facilities in the area we are unique, because we are licensed in Pennsylvania as an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/ID), but offer a program that includes around-the-clock pediatric nursing care. As a result of this licensing we are able to admit children in crisis without cost to family or the county. At the age of 21 the residents of St. Edmond’s Home transition to an adult placement. However, due to some of the residents’ medical complexities they have not been accepted by adult placements. One of our young ladies has been turned down by 13 other locations including nursing homes! So, after months of strategic planning and fundraising a community home for her and two other young women was purchased (2018). After renovations are complete the three young adults will move into the home where they will continue to receive high quality medical and therapeutic care. This continuum of care is truly priceless for the families of these young women. As we face the future, we look forward many more years of success providing outstanding and compassionate care; and as in the past, we continue to depend on the help and generosity of individuals and organizations to help us meet the needs some of the most vulnerable children.