Agnesian HealthCare Foundation donation supports wheelchair-accessible swing at SSM Health St. Francis Home

SSM Health St. Francis Home residents and their families will now have a new way to enjoy time together outside thanks to a new wheelchair-accessible swing funded through a nearly $17,000 gift from the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation.

“We are extremely grateful to the Agnesian HealthCare Foundation for supporting this exciting addition at St. Francis Home,” said Jennifer Mabry, Director of Senior Services: Continuum of Care. “We know that swinging offers many benefits associated with physical activity, including enhanced balance, coordination, and overall mobility.”

The project was also supported by a $5,000 gift from the family of Donald Sabel, a former St. Francis Home resident who passed away at age 93 in February 2025.

“This is a fitting tribute to Donald who, like many of our residents, had a special place in the heart of our team members, and loved the outdoors, daily mass, and conversations about the couple’s beautiful garden they attended to,” Mabry adds. “His favorite time was going into our courtyard behind the chapel or the front sidewalk to enjoy the sunshine.”

The WhisperGLIDE swing is located outside the St. Francis Home’s main entrance. Wheelchair-accessible swings allow wheelchair users and their family members or friends to sit together and enjoy a smooth, consistent swinging movement.

“We’re excited about the opportunities this swing creates for residents and families to spend quality time together outdoors, regardless of mobility challenges,” said Mason Gravelle, Agnesian HealthCare Foundation Philanthropy Director. “We know this new swing will help enhance the quality of life for those we serve by giving another option whether visiting with one another or just simply enjoying the fresh air and warm sun. This can be very peaceful and rejuvenating.”

St. Francis Home’s 107-bed skilled nursing facility is the centerpiece of a longstanding care campus where team members strive to create a homelike atmosphere while providing exceptional care. St. Francis Home is Medicare and Medicaid certified, providing assisted living, independent living, long-term care and memory care with staff trained in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.