Chris's Routine

He is awakened early and fed his 'breakfast' through his stomach tube, then bathed, shaved and changed. The staff also attaches an amplifier with earphones. He is often in bed much of the morning, then watches his movies in the afternoon. He alternates between being in bed - and being turned regularly - with sitting in his wheelchair, to avoid bedsores. The staff also take him to his doctor appointments.

He usually watches a movie or TV in the evening and has his 'dinner.' He goes to bed early and generally sleeps soundly through the night.

In normal times, we visit him once or twice a week, usually on Saturday or Sunday. In addition his old roommate Alex Crespo and her son Elifel often visit on the weekends, as does our friend and Chris's godmother, Patricia Bryant. 

 
MUSTS

His wheelchair has a motor to tilt it forward and back, and it must be recharged regularly. By 2021 it was not working well and we started the process of getting a new one - but it was delayed by covid. The design of a new one seemed to be back on track by spring 2022. 

 
His amplifier batteries need to be checked regularly if he is wearing it, as a hearing aid.. It should be checked every day to make sure that the batteries are working, that it's turned on, and that the volume in the two ear pieces is balanced.

He can't trim his fingernails, so they need to be maintained. And his primary caregiver gives him a haircut every few weeks.

Chris's Group Home

It had become more and more obvious, over the years, that as good as Chris's caregiver situation was, he needed to be in a permanent setting, with an organization that has the team, expertise and infrastructure to take care of him for the long run. We were very fortunate to connect with the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes. Chris moved into one in October 2014.

The address:

1028 Cresthaven
Silver Spring, MD 20903
301-445-1259

The home has three other residents and always has at least two staffers in waking hours. In much of the daytime, Chris is the only resident there and has his own caregiver. Another staffer stays overnight, checking on the residents regularly. The staff are all highly professional, caring, expert at their jobs.

In normal times the staff take the residents on outings, sometimes with residents of other nearby group homes. And as we saw on the very evening that Chris moved in, they also take the residents to JFGH's big fundraising Gala every fall.

We expected a difficult transition, but Chris seemed at home from the very first day - in large part, because of the professionalism and caring nature of the staff. When he had his setback with seizures in January 2015, he was away from the group home for about nine months. His return in late October was relatively easy and comfortable. The group home adapted well. And he seemed at home.

Chris's Finances

Chris and I share a checking account at SunTrust, now Truist, in Washington.  His Social Security check is deposited directly into it.

In a typical month a payment to JFGH for the share of the rent not covered by Medicaid is made automatically, and we write a check to to ALCO (which provides Chris's meds to the group home). There are often other bills for doctors and treatments not covered by Medicaid. We provide many of his personal products for the group home (bandages for his stomach tube, soap, shampoo, lotions, wipes, etc.), often by ordering them on Amazon, and we give the group home cash for his account, which they use for their outings or other expenses. His Social Security covers much of this, except when there are sizable medical or other unusual expenses (sometimes for special dental work or wheelchair repair).