Love Notes

 Change isn’t easy for any of us. It can be especially taxing on the people we serve. For many individuals diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, predictability is key to feeling secure and comfortable. A routine offers a sense of control over their environment, which can help reduce feelings of anxiety or stress. Consistent routines also support the development of essential life skills, encourage positive behaviors, and make it easier to manage daily responsibilities. And yet, change is inevitable and sometimes necessary.  As we commemorate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, it is worthwhile to share some of the ways we plan for transitions. When change is necessary, we do so with the residents in mind. Change is sometimes necessary Recently, six new residents moved into an Angels’ Place home. Soon, six more will join us. Before they move in, we are deliberate with the assimilation. Change is necessary. With their families, we lean into building ...

 Happy Belated Thanksgiving! We are grateful for all you make possible - every day - at Angels' Place. For some, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday are the starter's pistol bang to start spending.  There is some dispute about how the tradition started. Some believe it originated as a pagan custom of feasting, partying, and gift-giving during what is now December. Others believe it is embedded in Christianity through the gifts of the Magi to Jesus. Others believe it was influenced by the life of Nikolaos of Myra, a 4th-century saint who was famed for his fondness of giving people gifts. Regardless of the origin, I've come to appreciate that it is not about the exchange of physical packages, but more about the intended expression of love. In that spirit, we share with you some of the gifts of the women and men of Angels' Place. The Gift of Affection For many of our residents, especially those who have restricted or limited vocal skills, a hug is a primary form o...

Dear Friends of Angels' Place, Our Christmas wishes are that you have time to enjoy your family and that you might have time to reflect on the first Christmas in the context of things you experience today. You might think about the three journeys at the heart of the Christmas story: Mary and Joseph traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem; the three kings traveling from the East; Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to Egypt to avoid the wrath of Herod. As we think about these journeys, we are grateful for the many journeys you share with our residents. The journeys of Bob, Dan, Diana, and Tara - individuals who moved into an Angels Place home for the first time in the last year. There, they will be cared for, well fed, and lead enriching lives. Because you walk the journey with them, their initial trepidation turns into comfort; their guardian's fear turns into confidence. The journeys of our aging residents who often suffer with challenges that co-occur with intellectual and developmenta...

Annual Gifts Drive Our Day-to-Day Work Last week, we received several heartbreaking calls from dear friends of Angels' Place. Their acquaintance had suddenly passed away in Northern Michigan and were hoping we might consider opening a new home there including the acquaintance's special needs son.  Sadly, before they fully posed their idea, their own words helped them understand that the hands-on, in-person nature of our work - recruiting caregivers, training and mentoring them, managing complex reporting and compliance, working in collaboration with families and healthcare providers, providing resident enrichment activities, managing home maintenance = made the distant location impractical.  We offered two imperfect solutions - add the son to our waitlist for future residential consideration, or leverage our experiences as consultants to create their own version of "Angels' Place" in their area.  Unfortunately, this story is not uncommon. Every week, parents come ...