Community Life - Life Stories

Community Life - Living Independently for Elders

Community LIFE - Tarentum
702 Second Avenue
Tarentum, PA 15084
Phone: 1-866-419-1693

Community LIFE - McKeesport
1305 Fifth Avenue
McKeesport, PA 15132
Phone: 1-866-419-1693

Community LIFE - Homestead
491 East Eighth Avenue
Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: 1-866-419-1693

Community LIFE - East Liberty at Vintage
401 N. Highland Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone: 1-866-419-1693

Life Stories

The names below are altered to protect the individual's privacy.

Daniel & Veronica
Daniel proudly described his early life as a "hobo", train-hopping with friends in order to see the country. While traveling the rails, he survived on watermelon from the fields. Then Daniel met Veronica, and they fell deeply in love. His roaming days were over. Their connection "is so intense that they never want to be separated…ever." As the years went by, health problems began to plague them both. Caring for each other became more difficult. "Life wasn't too good." But they were committed to remain together despite the struggle. In fact, their bond is so strong that Daniel actually joined Community LIFE in order to be with Veronica, who also attends our center. Since joining Community LIFE, both Daniel and Veronica now describe their life as "beautiful." Veronica states that she "doesn't have to worry about housework or cooking. Her husband is well rested and they can just enjoy each other now." Veronica and Daniel celebrated 69 years of wedded bliss on January 7. Their friends, family, and staff gathered at Community LIFE for this milestone anniversary celebration.

Mary
Mary suffered a series of 3 strokes, which left her paralyzed and in need of 24-hour supervision and care. Mary states that she was "between a rock and a hard place", needing care, yet having a difficult time finding reliable caregivers. Her son and daughter need to maintain their employment. "I just existed. I had no life. Almost everyday I was scared, not knowing if anyone from the other agency was coming to take care of me. Every day was fearful for me."

Mary's daughter Denise was on the verge of being fired for frequent absenteeism. But what was she to do? She couldn't leave her mother home alone when the agency aide didn't show up. Some weeks she only missed ½ day of work. There were other weeks when she missed 4 days. Since her mother has enrolled in Community LIFE, Denise states that "I go to work now and I'm content. When I went to work before, I never knew if I was going to be called home and have to leave work. I couldn't work before…and now I can."

Mary now enjoys coming to the day center, being among people, socializing. She teaches other participants to play her favorite card games, and takes an active role in Bible study. Mary remarks that "Community LIFE seemed too good to be true, but it certainly has lived up to every promise."

Steve
When Steve enrolled in Community LIFE he was living with his son. The son was working 80 hours a week driving a taxi to pay for all the in-home services his father required. Steve, a retired minister, is partially paralyzed from the waist down, and at that time was bed bound and drifted in and out of consciousness. He would fall asleep while engaged in conversation. Upon enrollment, the Community LIFE clinic quickly realized that Steve was on a toxic level of medication and that was causing his drowsiness. Within weeks of starting medication management, Steve was alert and oriented and engaging in conversation and banter. After 12 months of intensive physical and occupational therapy Steve is no longer bed bound. He can maneuver himself in a wheelchair, can transfer from bed to chair and stand to bear weight to assist with care. He is highly motivated and has been continuing to progress in physical therapy. He has recently been ambulating 15 feet with a wheeled walker. Steve states,"I am truly a new man, given a new life."

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