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2 - Southpoint Sun
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Community Living clients face unique challenges By Mark Ribble According to Nantais, staff has been ESSEX — As so many local residents instrumental in being creative and makexperience unprecedented challenges in ing life as normal as can be for their clitheir daily life, so do some of the more ents during this time. vulnerable of our community. “Lana has energy like no other,” he Community Living Essex County says. (CLEC) provides services and supports For Lana Kappi, she said it’s about for over 700 clients across Essex County teamwork. and the organization has had some big “We’ve had to come up with ideas adjustments with the like a walking track in the COVID-19 pandemic. yard, and theme weeks like Devon Hyatt-Grabb Cinco De Mayo and Under is a 42-year-old client the Sea,” she said. of CLEC who lives in a They’ve also had a cougroup home in Leample of Elvis concerts put on ington with three othby Devon himself, who is er adult males. a huge Elvis fan. They’ve Devon has had to been keeping busy with adjust his life quite a music therapy and Devon bit during the virus also video chats with his crisis. friend Andrew. “I can only see my Heather is happy her son mom through the winis being well cared for, but dow,” he says. sad that it has gone on this Devon, his mother long. DEVON HYATT-GRABB Heather, along with “It’s very sad and I hope CLEC’s Manager of Community Liv- things will go back to normal soon,” she ing Supports Jonathan Nantais and staff said. “I can hear it in Devon’s voice.” worker Lana Kappi, all met on Zoom For Devon, he’s anxious to get back last week to talk about the challenges out and socialize like he used to not so during the pandemic. long ago. He says the first thing he will Heather had nothing but praise for do is “Go to the movies, have popcorn the organization. and a treat.” “They are a wonderful team,” she For Nantais, he’s grateful that the said. “They keep me up to date regular- team has been able to pull together. ly and are extremely understanding.” “We have a very dedicated team of For Devon, he finds it sad that he workers,” he said. can’t visit his mom or brother, but staff Meanwhile, 24-year-old Amber did arrange for him to have coffee and a Reekie is keeping busy in her own video chat with Heather recently. apartment in Leamington. On Mother’s Day, Lana took each While her outdoor activities have of the four members of the household been curtailed, she’s taking this time to around to drop flowers for their moth- catch up on some reading, organize her ers. closets and trying out some yoga.
“I miss being able to be outside with ering to them. nature,” she said. She’s also looking forward to hugCommunity Living Essex County ging her mom. Thankfully, she’s able to talk with her family through supplies Amber telephone, text and video with two staff, Shanchats. non Thibodeau and One project they’ve taken Stephanie Dyck. on is to repurpose a couple “We’ve tried very of old sweaters into pillows. hard to fill the time,” With the help of her staff, said Shannon. “Some Amber has immersed herdays can get really self in lots of crafts and aclong.” tivites. For Amber, her outThe first thing she wants going nature normalto do is “go outside.” ly gives her the opThe COVID-19 pandemic portunity to belong has certainly presented obto several organizastacles for many people who tions. already face many challengShe helps with AMBER REEKIE es, but having Community Meals on Wheels and is looking forward to getting back to Living Essex County and their staff to that. She’s taken to writing letters to her help out, makes things a lot easier on Meals on Wheels clients in leiu of deliv- those people who need it the most.
Assessment - from Page 1 the community no longer needs to be referred to an Assessment Centre by Telehealth Ontario, Primary Care, or Public Health. “As we transition and expand testing for those that are asymptomatic, it may help us detect any further disease spread and help as we reopen the economy,” says Kennedy. In any event, the staff at ESHC are ready for the increase, expecting those numbers to rise over the coming weeks. “Our Assessment Centre and leadership team is evaluating our current work flows to adapt to the increasing
volumes and how we can streamline processes to continue to minimize wait times and capacity concerns,” says Kennedy.
Entrance to ESHC Assessment Centre
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