A walk of life
Posted on June 5, 2008
by Stacey Haust, Assistant Director of CDPAS, Ontario County Office
A few weeks ago, I visited with a woman who impressed me with her kindness and courage. A woman in early her 60s, she has cultivated and lived a life filled with love, friendships, and family. This became evident as I gazed upon proudly displayed photos in her home while waiting patiently as she received phone call after phone call from friends and family eager to connect with her. Her life was not without obstacles. She has had a heart surgery and two strokes which left her paralyzed on her right side. Her greatest fear is the thought of losing her independence and the ability to remain in her home.
The purpose of my visit was to discuss with her services available through the CDR’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Service Program. This program could allow her to continue to live her life as she always had – independently. Through our program, she could manage her own personal care services. The ability to control who she hires and fires, schedule when they come and how often, will give her back some of the control she lost due to the strokes and heart surgery.
It is unfortunate that these types of programs haven’t always existed. I remember things being very different when I grew up in the small rural community of Willard, New York. Across the street from where I lived was Willard Psychiatric Center Read more