Change began the moment Hi-Hope temporarily closed our doors on March 13. While some things have been somewhat predictable, it seems almost impossible to fathom the complete impact of COVID-19, and how it will transform our organization and the IDD community for the foreseeable future. But with change, there is always opportunity, and we have a team filled with wonderful, hard-working people willing to embrace that change no matter the circumstances. They are the essential workers you don’t typically hear about, and they are our superheroes.
With the center doors closed, we had to suspend all day program activities which meant that our direct support professionals (DSP) could no longer report to work. The need shifted solely to our residential homes where our individuals still required full-time support. Vonetell Brown, a Lead DSP in our day program, didn’t hesitate to call our Residential Manager and make the transition to one of the homes. “I wanted to do whatever was necessary to give our individuals the meaningful support they deserve,” Vonetell said.
Vonetell has had to learn how to navigate the usual tasks for staff in our residential homes in addition to the new challenges of keeping herself and the individuals healthy and safe during the pandemic – training individuals to wear masks and practice proper hand hygiene has been a huge part of that process. With the center closing and our individuals following shelter-in-place orders, they spend the majority of their days inside the homes. The interruption in their daily routine has most certainly taken a toll. Since the individuals mostly associate home with downtime, she shared that one of the biggest obstacles for her has been creating separation during the day to ensure the individuals are still experiencing some level of meaningful activity. “It can be difficult at times to get them engaged in activities while we’re inside,” said Vonetell. “They want to go out into the community and see their friends just like everyone else.” But, Vonetell and the rest of the residential staff has worked together brilliantly to create a variety of projects to keep the days exciting and fresh for everyone.
Despite the circumstances, Vonetell is very pleased with how much she’s been able to learn about the individuals while she’s worked in the residential setting. She shared different stories about her observations and the connections she has made with the individuals. It could be something as small as how Scotty likes his grits or how Wally takes pride in making his bed every morning without anyone’s assistance. “It’s been a joy to see how confident and independent they really are,” said Vonetell.
Vonetell has been working full-time with the residential staff since we closed the doors of the center a little over two months ago, and she has been a member of the Hi-Hope family for almost 12 years.
We are thankful for our DSPs, and how they have all responded during this challenging time for us all. They continue to keep our individuals healthy, safe and in good spirits. It’s a true testament to the people they are, and the essential role each and every one of them play for our individuals and families.