About  Us & History 

When St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care Center (SEADCC) opened its doors, it was on the leading edge of a significant development in healthcare. A growing number of older adults were facing the prospect of having to move into nursing homes largely because their busy family members could not keep up with their care. No family wants to put their loved ones in an institution; it is emotionally wrenching, costly and shortens life spans. Those who studied the issue believed that families could stave off institutionalization if they could find agencies to provide and activities for their loved ones at a modest cost and during day.

​

In 1981, Sister John Antonio Miller established the first SEADCC site at St. Elizabeth Academy. She went on to establish multiple sites throughout the city and surrounding areas. At that time, she worked with Sisters of the Most Precious Blood to sponsor her mission of opening the area’s first adult day care center. A growing number of older adults were facing the prospect of moving to long-term care communities so their family caregivers could work.  In addition, many of young adults were “aging out” of other care programs but their family members still needed to work. The organization flourished under Sister John for decades and she was recognized by the Alzheimer’s Association as “the person who put adult day care on the map in St. Louis. 

​

Sister John Antonio was laser-focused on the SEADCC participants, the term she insisted on using to include those whom most would differentiate as clients, staff, and family. She knew the names and stories of every participant at every site. Our community's core values of presence, hospitality, reconciliation, and response to human needs guided every interaction and decision. These values were printed on the stub of every paycheck, and every employee could describe how they practiced these values in their daily ministry.

​

Currently, adults ranging in age from 18 to 90+ are challenged with such illnesses as Alzheimer's disease, aphasia, autism, cerebral palsy, diabetes, dementia, down syndrome, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and other Intellectual disabilities. 

​

St. Elizabeth's strives to be a welcoming place. Visitors don't need an appointment. They can ring the door buzzer and a staff member will come to the door quickly to greet them and provide a tour for first-timers or make it possible for a family member to visit a loved one, who is a participant.

​

Today, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word are St. Elizabeth’s sponsors.  Their mission and faith guide the overall philosophy of our service. Our organization currently has five centers, four in Metro St. Louis Arnold, Florissant St. Louis, St. Charles, and St. Genevieve, Missouri.  Our reach allows us to make significant, positive differences in the quality of lives of more than 200 area families.