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A TRIPIL Consumer Success Story from Steward Henderson to Return to His Home “At my lowest point,TRIPIL headed me in the right direction.” said Steward Henderson 
Steward Henderson and Lauren Kelly
There are few roads Steward Henderson hasn’t taken, and many of them have been rough.Growing up in the Banetown area of Amity, the first bend in the road came with the death of his father when Steward was just five. At Trinity High School, the lanky youth discovered a talent for Next he thought he would follow in the footsteps of his mother. “I come from a family of barbers,” he said. “There are 160 years of barbering in my family.”Becoming a licensed barber, however, is not just about cutting hair, he says. “I just couldn’t get it right. It was the biology. You have to learn all the facial muscles and take a test. I just couldn’t Frustrated, he thought he might find his way in the Army, but was soon spiraling out of control in those troubling Vietnam War years, so he got out before he got in over his head. Through the years, his tendency to live hard, coupled with questionable safety practices at some job sites, led to numerous accidents that left him hospitalized. Each time, he somehow got back up again. Eventually, he returned to the area where he met his longtime partner, Mary Duncan. At last Steward had found his home, settling down with Mary in Fayette County where he began working for various contractors in Perryopolis. Unfortunately, there was another setback ahead for Steward, who was badly injured in a hit and run incident. After months of therapy, he was barely back on his feet again when he tumbled 48 feet from a ladder in 2000. Unstoppable, Steward inched his way back from his catastrophic injuries but could no longer work due to his disabilities. However, he continued to find joy in his life with Mary, who lovingly cared for him in their home near the Yough River where he spent many hours fishing with his buddies. But more falls and surgeries followed. In all he had three hip replacements, the last one a titanium model, which landed him in a nursing home exactly one year ago, where he was grimly resigned to living out the rest of his days. Mary came daily to help him with his therapy, but says now she and he could not be left alone.,” she says. “I didn’t know what I was going to do.” Fortunately for Steward and Mary, a well-informed social worker told them about the services TRIPIL offers to persons with disabilities. “I had never even heard of TRIPIL before,” Steward admits. After Steward’s intake was completed, they learned that Mary could become Steward’s Personal Care Attendant, and be paid for several hours a day. TRIPIL representatives also introduced them to the Nursing Home Transition Program, and the rest is history. In December Some days are still hard, but the journey is much easier since Steward and Mary know they can rely on TRIPIL staff for support. The couple learned that they are eligible for home modifications and durable medical equipment, including a stair glide, which will assist Steward in remaining independent in his own home. Unfortunately, due to the state budget crisis, Steward and thousands of other persons with disabilities in PA are waiting for But Service Coordinator Supervisor Lauren Kelly emphasizes that TRIPIL is not turning anyone away. “Although we are not receiving reimbursement for the services we are providing to consumers, we will not place our consumers at risk. We are committed to our consumers right to live independently in the community”, she said. TRIPIL Services Deputy Director Michelle Grant Shumar says that, “clearly this is a premeditated action on the part of the state to create waiting lists and reduce the amount of service providers.” Steward and Mary plan to join a group of TRIPIL representatives heading to Harrisburg to meet with the state Department of Aging regarding how the budget crisis is affecting persons with disabilities. Meanwhile, Steward credits TRIPIL with helping him get his life back. “If it had not been for TRIPIL, I’d still be in that nursing home.” His gratitude is evident when he says, “I’ve been recommending TRIPIL to everyone I know. This is one way I can help others, and head them in the right direction.” A New Beginning for Rich DeLuca If you asked Rich DeLuca how he feels to live in his own home after his transition from a nursing home, he might say, “its freedom”. Rich sustained a TBI (traumatic brain injury) when a drunk driver on July 14, 2008 hit him. After his accident he was forced to live his life in a nursing facility where he thought he would be forced to live the rest of his life and forget about the life he once led. Prior to his accident he was a chef and managed a restaurant in Florida and never thought he would ever live in a nursing home. Rich’s life was about to change when he met one of TRIPIL’s transition team members who helped him experience life beyond the nursing home. With the help of TRIPIL’s services after being confined to a nursing home for over three and a half years, Rich is now live independently on his own. Rich says that just because he is a person with a disability does not mean he is disabled. He stated without the help of TRIPIL he felt helpless until he met his Independent Living Specialist. He has lived on his own since November 23, 2010, a date he remembers well. Living independently has proved to him that each day of now is about improving his life on his terms. He says that he would have never given up and this is not the end of him, it’s a new beginning. By Cindy Bailey, GreeneSpeak Editor/Publisher Erick Crunick in His Home Those roots run deep in an 1870s Victorian house in the heart of Washington, where he grew up with two siblings and where he now lives with his mom, Helen. His dad, Mike, passed away in 2002. In fact, his dad’s illness was one reason he returned. He now covets the memories of those last days with his father. But, Eric, who was then in his 40s and who has muscular dystrophy, also knew he would be needing more services in order to remain independent. That’s where TRIPIL came in. “When I was making my plans to return home, I got in touch with TRIPIL and they put my attendant care in place,” he said. “The paper work was extensive, but TRIPIL made it smooth. They helped me assess what programs I was eligible for.” After his needs assessment was completed, Eric chose the Agency Model in which TRIPIL served as the employer of his Personal Care Attendants. Recently, however, he switched to the Consumer Model, where he has become the employer because he finds it more flexible. “Our staff at TRIPIL works directly with folks like Eric to determine the individual level of attendant care they need to stay independent in their own home,” said Stefan Manz, Executive Director of TRIPIL. “Without my attendant care, I’d be in a nursing home,” Eric says matter-of-factly. But Eric has a lot of living to do. “I’m busy from the time I get up until the time I go to bed,” he says. He and his mom clearly have a unique rapport. They enjoy being together, but each has their own life. The atmosphere in their home is as warm as the yellow clapboards on the historic house, where a 22-year-old cat named “Pumpkin” holds court. Three stories high and trimmed in white gingerbread, the house has been the pride and joy of the family. Inside, the lovingly decorated first floor has been a blessing, Helen said, because it has always been accessible for Eric. For full story click here.erictriplhome.pdf |
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