Catholic-run residential care for seniors here has ended, but support still exists
By Christina Gray
It was less than five years ago that families evaluating options for the care of an aging family member had two Catholic-run facilities within the boundaries of the Archdiocese of San Francisco to choose from. With the closure of St. Anne’s Home in San Francisco in April, and the closure of the Nazareth House in San Rafael four years ago, it appears that for now, local Catholic-run residential care for the aging is a thing of the past. It’s a considerable loss. Both the Sisters of Nazareth, who owned and operated Nazareth House in San Rafael for nearly 60 years, and the Little Sisters of the Poor, who owned and operated St. Anne’s Home in San Francisco for 124 years, offered facilities and programming that was decidedly Catholic.
You didn’t have to be Catholic to live at either facility, but both operations hummed along to a profoundly Catholic rhythm. Priests and sisters were a constant presence. Each facility had a dedicated chapel with daily Mass. Each observed Catholic holy days, made the the sacraments easily and frequently available, had Catholic art on its walls and books on its shelves, organized evening rosary groups, took residents on Catholic excursions, and offered volunteer opportunities for local Catholic parishioners and students.
It seems that the problem was fundamentally a local one; it is simply too expensive to operate here, said Sister Julie Horseman, provincial superior for the Little Sisters of the Poor, in announcing the closure of St. Anne’s Home earlier this year. She said operations had become “unsustainable” in San Francisco.
Those issues included the staffing difficulties related to affordable housing. The lack of affordable housing for staff — many of whom are low-wage workers — also contributed to the shuttering of the Nazareth House in 2021. Both orders continue to run other Catholic residential care facilities in areas outside the San Francisco Bay Area where the cost of living and operations is lower.
Mercy Retirement and Care Center in Oakland, which was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1872, is now run by Elder Care Alliance. The nonprofit’s five care homes in California, including Alma Via San Rafael, are not Catholic-run but prioritize “spiritual well-being.”
Catholic San Francisco looked into what alternatives remain for local Catholics who want to be supported in practicing their faith as they age. The good news is, support is available; the not-quite-as-good news is, there will be compromises.
Aging in place with support
“Aging in place” simply means staying in your own home or stable housing and remaining relatively independent while you grow older. There’s a sense of comfort in the familiar, as physical and mental capabilities change. Gradually (though sometimes suddenly), families will face the decision about whether they can or want to step in themselves as caregivers or pay a caregiver full or part time. Ellen Hammerle, CEO of Catholic Charities of San Francisco, told Catholic San Francisco that its Aging Support Services can be invaluable to families navigating the aging process. Its programs are an economical alternative to placement in a residential facility or in-home care, while providing a very necessary respite to caregivers. “We were born out of the Catholic Church,” said Hammerle of Catholic Charities. She noted that as a board member, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone is “very supportive of our endeavors.” Catholic Charities offers adult day services in San Mateo and San Francisco counties. The licensed programs offer non-medical personal care, supervision and assistance for seniors and adults with disabilities who experience losses in physical function, memory or social support. An Alzheimer‘s Day Care Resource Center is part of the San Francisco program only. In San Mateo County, Adult Day Care is based in San Carlos and includes a “Memory Café” for adults with memory loss and a caregiver support group. Aging case management is also available on a sliding scale based on an ability to pay. It provides connections to community resources such as home-delivered meals, home safety checks, transportation services, referrals for psychological services and patient advocacy.
On the third Saturday of every month, Catholic Charities offers “Breaking Bread with Hope” (formerly Handicapables), a Mass and afternoon of fellowship with other aging adults or those with disabilities. Hammerle acknowledged that while Catholic Charities programs are open to people of all faiths, and do not offer spiritual care or direction, its history, mission, vision and values are rooted in Catholic social teaching. “Woven into the fabric of Catholic Charities is Catholic tradition,” she said. “I think Catholics who come here feel that.”
Christina Gray is the lead writer for Catholic San Francisco.
