August 01, 2024
Freedom to Be Me, Again
Narrated by Stephanie, resident of Inglis House
Transcribed by Danielle Quinn
Photos by Chris Kendig
When Stephanie and her husband Keith grew tired of the restrictions their traditional nursing home placed on them, they began looking for a new home. This led them to Inglis House where they began to live again.
“My husband, Keith, and I wanted a new home back in 2018, because our nursing home in Maryland wasn’t a right fit for us. It had too many rules and didn’t match our love for fun. We found Inglis House, and it turned out to be more than just a place to live – it became a special community that said ‘yes’ to our dreams.
At first, I was worried about moving out of state, but we decided to check out Inglis House anyway. When we got here and saw all the activities and therapy, I knew this was the place for us!
After moving in, I quickly joined all the programs and classes. That’s when I discovered how much I love making art. I just had one of my pieces selected to be displayed at the Inglis House art show! Today, I love being a part of the Inglis Community. I deliver the mail and was recently elected to Resident Council.
Today, life is very different than it was back in Maryland, where we heard ‘no’ to many of the things we wanted to do. At Inglis, the staff respect our past and help us to be independent. It might sound simple, but I love having the freedom to go to the grocery store or the mall. I get to be me again.”