VFI's Nursing Home Transition Like a Fairy Tale Story

By Lois Thomson

In the past year, VFI (Voices for Independence) has helped transition 207 people from nursing home facilities to living independently in their own home. But while all such moves are very special, it's fair to say that one of last year's has a little more meaning than the others.

This particular move involved two people and has a storybook-style ending. Deb and Russ met in a nursing home facility, where both of them had been living for years. As Steve Johnson, director of marketing for VFI in both Washington, PA, and Erie, told the story, Deb noticed Russ sitting alone one time during a bingo activity, and invited him to come and join her and her friend. "He went over and sat with them," Johnson said, "and he and Deb began talking, forming a friendship. Over the course of time he proposed to her and they got married right there in the facility."

After the wedding, the couple told the nursing facility staff they would like to be placed in the same room, and while the staff said they would work on it, it never happened. As Johnson explained, "Both Deb and Russ were actually working independently with two great nursing home transition coordinators from our organization, prior to their marriage. Once they decided to move in together, staff member Denise Stewart took over and began looking for options that would accommodate them both living in the same home."

Steve Johnson said, "There are many rules for those living in nursing facilities, and generally, we simply think about how residents may have curfews and things of that nature. However, one thing I hadn't thought of was the inability to own a pet. Taking into consideration allergies, the responsibility of care, and more, those living in nursing homes don't have the option of having a pet." Johnson went on to note that upon transitioning home, one of the first things Deb and Russ wanted was to add a dog to their family. "As luck would have it, they were able to adopt their first dog together, Levi Lincoln, who serves as a loving reminder that the couple can now make decisions on their own, and live their lives as they wish."

He said finding housing for someone in a position like that can be an arduous process, that waiting lists sometimes take months or years. Among other things, they have to check on eligibility, and what has to be done to make the residence accessible. "But Denise reached out to someone in Franklin County, and he said he had an apartment for two people and nobody was on a waiting list for it. 'We can do this now.'"

But then Deb raised another problem. As Johnson said, she pointed out, "We don't have furniture, we don't have anything, we've been in a nursing facility for so long." But Johnson was able to counter, "We cover all of that – a dresser, bed, couch, to furnish the apartment, an entire refrigerator and freezer full of food. The first month's rent and security deposit."

According to Johnson, Deb's response was how awesome it was to get all of the support they needed to get back into the community. "She thought (being in the nursing facility) was the way life was going to be.

He continued, "It's pretty overwhelming to realize how many people's lives we've been able to impact, how many different people in the community have been empowered and given back their independence by us transitioning them back to the community, simply because they just needed a jumpstart." Yes, just ask Deb and Russ.

For more information, call (724) 223-5115 or visit www.vficil.org.