[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Change can be hard, but it can also be good.
It is a lesson that Rosemary Poe has learned time and time again.
She learned it back in 1984, when she was first connected with ADEC services and removed from a physically, sexually and emotionally abusive environment. She was scared at first of the new people and new places, but she now says she never would have found happiness if it weren’t for ADEC’s guardian advocates.
And she learned about change again this year when she transitioned from her supported living apartment in Elkhart to an ADEC group home in Bristol.
Rosemary loved her groundfloor apartment where she was finally able to grow her own tomatoes, but she was struggling to keep her diabetes under control while living on her own. Even while working closely with supported living staff on her diet and medication, Rosemary would still experience blood sugar spikes and crashes. Now, in a group home, trained staff will be available to support Rosemary around the clock.
Rosemary spent her first night in her new home on Wednesday and said she was looking forward to getting to know her seven housemates and the house staff. As she unpacked her bags, Rosemary talked about the pictures she would hang on her walls of her friends and her two sisters, who have since passed away.
Within a few hours of moving in, she had already welcomed her first visitors.
Deb Gilbert, her former roommate, and Jenica Newbry, her case coordinator, stopped by with a housewarming gift picked out just for her: pink petunias.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1520270890875{background-color: #008bb3 !important;border-radius: 3px !important;}”]
ADEC EMPLOYEES GO
ABOVE & BEYOND
ADEC’s nearly 400 employees have a real, positive and personal impact on the more than 1,000 people we serve, who are your friends and your neighbors.
They advocate tirelessly for the people we serve and help them reach new levels of independence.
ADEC employees also help make dreams come true for the people we serve, whether it’s:
–Completing the Chicago Marathon,
-Running an online business, or
–Reconnecting with a long-lost family member.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Jenica, along with ADEC employees Beth Alexander and Melissa Roberts, realized the transition might be difficult, so they planned a surprise party in her honor. They baked a dozen cupcakes, ordered a bunch of balloons and whipped up a batch of homemade chicken and noodles. Unfortunately, the party was canceled at the last minute due to flooding, but it was the thought that counted.
“It just goes to show how much our employees truly care about the people they serve,” said Dawn Akins, ADEC’s supported living director. “Not only are they professional, but they are also compassionate.”
Rosemary’s transition to the group home also demonstrates how ADEC services guide individuals with disabilities through every stage in their life. Over the past 34 years, ADEC has served Rosemary through guardianship, transportation, employment, day and residential programs.
When Rosemary was first connected with ADEC, it was just for guardianship services. ADEC’s corporate guardianship program protected and advocated for Rosemary so her family could no longer abuse and exploit her. Rosemary later found a job at ADEC Industries, where she worked for nearly a decade.
As Rosemary grew older and her health grew more fragile, she found the support she needed through ADEC’s supported living services. And now, she spends her days at Day Service at Bristol and is settling in her new home with 7 new housemates.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
