Providence Mount St. Vincent
April 1, 2024 at 12:00 a.m.
100 years ago, the Sisters of Providence moved into the new "Home for the Aged" in West Seattle -- now called Providence Mount St. Vincent
...by Cynthia Flash
A rededication ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. with speakers and the opening of the 100-year-old time capsule. At noon, all will gather for a “group hug” photo, a West Seattle tradition for organizations reaching their centennial. From 1:30 to 5pm, dining spaces inside The Mount will be transformed into musically themed time zones including the roaring ‘20s, a ‘50s inspired Sock Hop and a tribute to Elvis as the King of Rock and the ‘60s with live music, dance demos, hourly drawings and other surprises. The day will close with an evening outdoor patio movie showing of Grease (R) at 5:30pm, with centennial fleece blankets for the first 200 guests, popcorn, and beverages.
Residents of Providence Mount St. Vincent enjoy a commanding view of downtown Seattle from the hilltop in West Seattle. Photos by Peter Howland
When the Sisters of Providence convinced community members to support their vision of a home for the aged in West Seattle 100 years ago, they likely could not imagine how it would evolve over the next century, becoming an international leader in senior care.
In the early 1900s, Sr. Mary Conrad Kratz, in her rounds of visiting the poor and sick in Seattle, dreamed of a place where the elderly would be given adequate care and housing. That dream became a reality on Jan. 24, 1924, when the Sisters of Providence relocated their Provincial Administration, Infirmary, and Novitiate from Providence Academy in Vancouver, Wash. to the newly opening St. Vincent Home for the Aged in West Seattle. The Sisters lived on the premises, where they ran the facility and cared for the elderly residents.
Exactly 100 years later, on April 26, 2024, the community is invited back to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Providence Mount St. Vincent, the nationally and internationally acclaimed facility that provides retirement, assisted, and skilled nursing living options to local seniors.
“When this was built, we were a beacon on the hill, a light,” said Sister Charlene Hudon, who took vows at Providence Mount St. Vincent. “We’re still a beacon of hope. I think that we will continue to be that. What is here is the heart, it’s the heart and compassion and caring. And that’s why we will continue.”
Providence Mount St. Vincent, lovingly referred to as “The Mount,” has seen many changes over its 100 years.
From the 1930s to the 1950s, rooms were home-like, with separate floors for men and women. Residents enjoyed many indoor and outdoor activities. Sisters harvested and canned fruits and vegetables from orchards and gardens. A tradition of volunteering that started then continues today with many community members volunteering hours to serve those who live at The Mount.
Even before formal rehabilitation programs were established in the 1960s, nursing care at Providence Mount St. Vincent included multiple healthcare services, including physical therapy for residents, as seen here in the 1930s. Photo from Providence Archives.
The building was significantly remodeled in the 1960s to provide both skilled nursing rooms and retirement apartments. In keeping with the health care changes of the times, a new therapy services department was opened. The chapel was also updated, and a new dining space was added for apartment residents. Following a 6.7 earthquake in 1965, the original brick building underwent a major resurfacing, giving The Mount a whole new look. The new St. Joseph Residence for retired and elder Sisters to live in and receive care was dedicated in 1966 and the Provincial Administration and Novitiate moved to Providence Heights in Issaquah.
The 1970s and 1980s were years community outreach and creativity. The Mount became Medicare and Medicaid certified and for the first time, leaders who were not Sisters took over some administrative duties.
Change continued into the 1990s, when the building was significantly remodeled to meet the needs of the future. A shift in philosophy empowered residents with even more control over their care in the warm, social community. Assisted living services were added to serve an older population with growing needs, and the long, hospital-like corridors in the skilled nursing area were redesigned into neighborhoods, a revolutionary change that set the example for other nursing homes to follow.
“Whole-person care is taking care of the mind, the body and the spirit, not just taking care the medical needs, but the spiritual and emotional needs as well,” said former Providence Mount St. Vincent Administrator Charlene Boyd, who led the change.
In 1991, the Intergenerational Learning Center opened for children of employees and the broader community, bringing children and seniors together throughout the entire campus. Linking these two age groups brought extra joy, new relationships and meaning to daily life.
“It wasn’t mainstream to put a childcare center in the building. It wasn’t mainstream to not have a (separate) dementia unit. It wasn’t mainstream to not organize by level of care. All of those things at that time were pretty progressive,” Boyd said. “Just like the Sisters have always been pioneers and at the forefront of services, we were the same way.”
As the century changed, so did The Mount. The Father James Mallahan Center for Healing opened in 2002, founded on the belief that good health reflects the entire person in body, mind and spirit through life enriching services and care – all offered through adult day health, rehabilitation services and wellness. The Mount expanded its Transitional Care Unit in 2012 to meet a growing community need for rehabilitation after a hospital stay. About 1,000 patients are treated there annually.
Continuing its leadership on the international stage, “The Growing Season,” a documentary about The Mount’s unique intergenerational community, was released in 2017. The resulting publicity generated countless media requests and study visits from all over the United States and the world for several years.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, every facet of life at The Mount changed, impacting residents’ daily lives, finances, and caregiver infection prevention practices. Throughout it all, The Mount’s commitment to community never wavered. In 2023, the West Seattle Chamber named Providence Mount St. Vincent non-profit of the year in recognition of its important role and outstanding impact in the community.
The Mount has more than 400 residents. One is Fredda Starr, 84, who takes advantage of all the services available. Once released from a hospital stay in July 2020, she entered The Mount’s Transitional Care Unit to receive rehabilitation services. Eventually she moved into an assisted living apartment and is also enrolled in the Providence ElderPlace PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care) program on site, a separate program that provides all of her healthcare needs. “I feel like they got my back,” she said. “I feel very fortunate.”
Providence Mount St. Vincent residents enjoy a wide range of activities, including bicycling around the campus and nearby parks on specially designed cycles built for two, or savoring their morning jo with friends at The Mount's café. Photos by Peter Howland
The Sisters of Providence brought the dream of serving elders, the poor and vulnerable to reality in 1924. Since then, The Mount has envisioned and implemented many possibilities – from person-directed care, neighborhoods, and apartments and a vibrant, engaging intergenerational community.
“I do believe that over the next 100 years this building will be here. But I think that we, just like the Sisters, will trailblaze through that and figure out the best way to continue to serve the community,” Boyd said.
MORE INFORMATION
A rededication ceremony will take place at 10:30am with speakers and the opening of the 100-year-old time capsule. The first 300 guests to arrive for the photo will receive a centennial t-shirt. At noon, all will gather for a “group hug” photo, a West Seattle tradition for organizations reaching their centennial. From 1:30 to 5pm, dining spaces inside The Mount will be transformed into musically themed time zones including the roaring ‘20s, a ‘50s inspired Sock Hop and a tribute to Elvis as the King of Rock and the ‘60s. All are invited to enjoy live music, dance demonstrations, hourly drawings, and other surprises. The day will close with an evening outdoor patio movie showing of Grease (R) at 5:30pm, with centennial fleece blankets for the first 200 guests, popcorn, and beverages.
Parking is free, although parking is limited. Street parking is available.
For more information, call 206-937-3700.
Cynthia Flash is a public relations consultant who owns Flash Media Services. Providence Mount St. Vincent is one of her clients.
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