Leonard, a happily-single bachelor his whole life, lived independently at home well into his 80s. A self-taught artist, he spent much of his career working for United Way and was active in the Lincoln community. But with no family members nearby, small signs of age began to create larger challenges.
In early 2009 with the help of a Tabitha social worker, Leonard recognized the upkeep of his home was something he no longer enjoyed nor was able to do as well as he once did. A Tabitha continuum navigator worked with Leonard to begin in-home support services providing light housecleaning and companionship. Grateful for the help, Leonard welcomed additional support from Tabitha later that year to assist with medication management, particularly his insulin regimen for diabetes treatment.
“We knew Uncle Leonard’s diabetes was an issue, and eventually we also started seeing signs of dementia,” said his niece-in-law, Linda Keenan, who lives in Omaha.
Tabitha continued to help Leonard into 2010, when a home support staff member arrived at Leonard’s home to find him life-threateningly dehydrated and weak. Leonard was immediately hospitalized, where he recovered for several weeks. Back home, Tabitha again was there for Leonard with increased services including Meals on Wheels, and bathing and hygiene assistance in addition to continued medication management and housekeeping services.
“Without Tabitha, Leonard would most definitely have not been able to stay in his home for as long as he did,” said his Tabitha continuum navigator, Kelli Higgins. “We were glad to be able to give Leonard the care and services he needed, when he needed them, to help him live independently well past the age most people are able to do so.”
As his health declined, Leonard’s relatives leaned more and more on Tabitha to help monitor Leonard’s condition and needs, and to recommend and provide services to meet those needs.
“In April we got a call from Tabitha telling us Uncle Leonard wasn’t doing so well,” Linda said. “We knew his health had declined, but living an hour down the road we weren’t able to check on him daily. Tabitha helped us realize at that point that Uncle Leonard needed more help, and we knew we could trust the advice of the people who had been giving him such reliable, wonderful care.
“At first we worried about his acceptance of the situation, but working with Tabitha was easy, and the staff was so reassuring both for us and for Uncle Leonard.”
Soon after, with his and his family’s blessing, Leonard made his new home at Tabitha Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lincoln.
“When I look at him now, he seems happier, cleaner and more alert than I can remember seeing him in a long time,” Linda said. “Thanks to Tabitha, we have no worries about his safety or care. It’s a huge relief for us, and Uncle Leonard deserves it. He’s a really nice, caring man who always tried to do whatever he could for other human beings in his life. I’m glad he is cared for now by the same kind of people he always was to others.”
