Finding Her Place: Transitioning Out of a Nursing Home After 13 Years   

By Angela E. Gambrel - Midland Daily News 

Photos by Neil Blake - Midland Daily News 

Kathleen Pung is feisty, outgoing and finally living her life the way she wants to. After living in a nursing facility for 13 years, Disability Network of Mid-Michigan helped Kathleen move to the spacious and warm adult foster care home, Close To Home in Bay City.

13 years ago, Kathleen was living in an apartment when she fell. She has cerebral palsy, but she hasn't allowed that to define her. Her family helped her move into Tendercare, largely in part because a needed wheelchair would not fit in her small apartment.  

"We thought there was no other place for me to go," Kathleen said. Her family thought she would have to stay at Tendercare for life. A picture of Kathleen shows an active woman who took part in activities and wrote for The Source, a downstate newspaper. While she wasn't unhappy at Tendercare, Kathleen still felt she wanted to live independently and not in a nursing home. Now, with the help of Wendy Hartman, a Disability Network outreach specialist, Kathleen is living independently.

"I like it better than the nursing home," she said.

Now she zips around in her power wheelchair and goes out to eat and to have a beer. "I have some trouble going down the stairs," Kathleen said. "But I can do pretty much anything else." That includes favorites like writing, weaving and completing word search puzzles.

It is clear she and Hartman have connected. There is an easy camaraderie between the two, and they often laugh together. "And you can tell her that you like to go have a beer," Harman said, teasing her.

Her bedroom is large and filled with her beloved cloth puppets and a bin filled with country and gospel compact discs. On the dresser is a picture of a younger Kathleen , dressed up and smiling. Her power wheelchair sat to one side, and there is a homey, family feel throughout.

Hartman said the agency helps people who would like to live out in the community. Disability Network covers 12 counties, and has moved over 100 people into community residences. For those at Disability Network, it's all about choice.

"We are really careful not to convince anybody to move," said Hartman. "That's not our choice. It's their choice. We just let them know there are other options."

Hartman was visiting a nursing home when she met Kathleen and struck up a conversation with her. At first, Kathleen's guardian declined to allow her to move into the home. Then the guardian thought about it, and said yes. Kathleen's moving costs were basically covered by the Medicaid waiver program.

"Kathy is where she wants to be. I'm ecstatic," Hartman said.

"We're all entitled to a choice," Hartman continued. "Just because you have a disability, your choice shouldn't be taken away."

Hall Joins Disability Network Staff

Lionel Hall has joined the staff of the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan's Veterans Services program.

"The goal of the program is coordinating all aspects of veterans support with regard to medical concerns, employment, education, and housing, " said David Emmel, Executive Director of the Disability Network of Mid-Michigan. "Lionel's varied background of service to his country and counseling, along with his passion for ensuring veterans receive the support they deserve, will prove an invaluable asset to the program and to our consumers."

     
A veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Lionel served in the United States Army for eleven years.  For eight of those years, Lionel was a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) supervisor and he was responsible for training soldiers to survive in a hazardous NBC war environment. 

 
Lionel is a proud father of three children and, in his spare time, he enjoys reading a wide variety of books as well as studying and teaching theology. 

Veterans Services program at Disability Network provides direct services to veterans with service-connected disabilities who are enrolled in an Independent Living Program through the VA. Veterans are referred to DNMM for follow-up and coordination to help them reach the objectives identified in their Rehabilitation plans.  The plans are designed to help veterans maximize independent living skills, heighten community involvement and enhance their quality of life.  

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Spread the Word to End the Word 

 Spread the Word to End the Word is an on-going effort to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word "retard(ed)" and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word. The campaign is intended to get schools, communities and organizations to rally and pledge their support.  

Not Acceptable R-word PSA

"Not Acceptable" is a powerful and compelling 30 second public service announcement which gives voice to a variety of diverse communities each of whom expresses that it is not acceptable to call them by what were once common words, but are now recognized as offensive slurs. It culminates in actress and self-advocate Lauren Potter from "Glee" stating that it is not acceptable to use the word 'retard' and she and "Glee" co-star Jane Lynch make a call to action to stop using the word and to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to make their pledge online at http://r-word.org.

The PSA was launched by the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, an on-going initiative from Special Olympics and Best Buddies to eradicate the derogatory use of the word "retard(ed)" from everyday use and promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  

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Give Back:  Ruby Tuesday Restaurant Dining for Disability Network 

Join us for lunch or dinner at Ruby Tuesday restaurant in Midland on Thursday, March 15th.  

Ruby Tuesday is extremely proud to be a part of our hometown and they believe in giving back. As part of their Community Give Back Program, Ruby Tuesday will be donating 20% of all table receipts to Disability Network of Mid-Michigan on Thursday, March 15th, from 11am until 10pm.

If you would like to attend,  please present this certificate to your server. 

The restaurant is located in the Midland Mall, at 6800 Eastman Avenue. For directions or to view the menu, please visit www.rubytuesday.com.  To make a reservation, please call 989-631-4050. 

  "Access America" is Online!

Episodes of "Access America," Disability Network's monthly public-access television show, are now available online.  

Access America: Assistive Technology

Our current episode features a presentation of several assistive technology products that are readily available. Assistive Technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.   

To view episodes, visit Disability Network's Vimeo Page. 

More episodes will be added as future shows are produced. In addition, we will be including several past episodes, so be sure to continue checking the site for updates.