When the Brothers of Mercy was founded over 160 years ago, their mission was simple, yet profound: provide comfort and care for those most in need. Today, this legacy of compassionate care continues in ways that the founders of this Catholic health care organization could never have imagined. The Brothers of Mercy is embarking upon a visionary 18-acre campus expansion which will serve countless Western New York seniors in need of specialized health care services. Development of a 90,000-square-foot Memory Care, Assisted Living and Enhanced Assisted Living Community is underway, with completion expected in Summer 2020. This will satisfy a high demand for much-needed memory care and advanced care options in Western New York, while also supporting the Brothers of Mercy's steadfast mission of charitable service through compassionate care.

The brothers began ministering to the sick and poor of Germany in the mid-19th century. They expanded this work throughout the world, including parts of Europe, Asia and into the Western Hemisphere. In 1924, five German Brothers came to the United States and launched a tradition that soon became a recognized cornerstone of the WNY care community. Beginning with a small fleet of bicycles, they provided in-home nursing care to the sick and elderly of downtown Buffalo. The Brothers traveled day and night, through rain or snow, administering around-the-clock care to anyone in need. As years passed and their scope widened, the brothers' ministry of service garnered a pristine reputation for providing the best compassionate care in the area.

The Brothers' mission to honor Christ by serving others eventually led to the founding of a "campus of care" in Clarence in the early 1950s. The Brothers of Mercy Wellness Campus has since grown to include skilled nursing, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, assisted living, independent living, and respite, hospice and home nursing services. Today, Brothers of Mercy is Western New York's largest five-star Wellness Campus, providing care to over 500 residents and 800 inpatient and outpatient rehabbers annually.  With nearly 600 employees, Brothers is the largest private employer in the Town of Clarence. After almost an entire century of serving Western New York, the remarkable heritage of the Brothers of Mercy continues in its vocation: to console and touch countless lives.

The Brothers of Mercy is embarking on its most ambitious project to date:  A $20 million community with six "neighborhoods" offering an inviting environment of person-centered care and enrichment, centralized around residential households designed to feel like home. Plans include 64 assisted and enhanced assisted living apartments. In addition, the community features a special, 32-unit memory care wing, designed for seniors experiencing any stage of memory loss impairments. It offers 24-hour care, medication monitoring and customized wellness programs will be designed for individuals in need of various types of enhanced care or experiencing dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Specialized programming will be offered in a safe environment with uniquely-trained staff to manage the challenges associated with memory loss and enhanced care. This visionary new addition will truly revolutionize the Wellness Campus, propelling the organization into a bright future where it will be able to serve many more people in need.

Says Brothers of Mercy CEO Peter Eimer, "We've always wanted to be able to serve this population. There is such a high need for this type of specialized care. The time is right for us to move forward and advance the mission of the brothers even further."

Since its inception, Brothers of Mercy has always remained a mission-based, not-for-profit organization, receiving no additional funding from outside sources. Support for this campus expansion will allow the Brothers of Mercy to grow in faith and strengthen their mission for today, tomorrow and years to come.

To learn more about the compassionate care of Brothers of Mercy and how you can help impact lives by supporting their expansion plans, visit www.brothersofmercy.org.