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Garry Melenyk was hospitalized after an overdose of prescription medication and spent nine days in a coma. His doctors did not think he would survive, but he did! Without the support needed to return home, Garry was released from the hospital to a nursing home for rehabilitation.
While residing in the nursing home, Garry developed a strong desire to live more independently.
Garry’s daughter, who lives in California and serves as his power of attorney, reached out to Disability Network Eastern Michigan's Community Transition Services (CTS) program for assistance. The CTS program helps eligible nursing home residents who desire to be in a more independent setting achieve their goals. The CTS program helps participants secure the tools and community supports essential for independent living.
Garry and his daughter worked with Phyllis Reynolds, Community Health Worker/Transition Navigator at Disability Network Eastern Michigan (DNEM), to determine his CTS eligibility and find a residence. Working as a team, they researched several options and found the cost of assisted living a major barrier. With continued research, they found a program that made Garry’s goal affordable.
A retired accountant and a National Guard veteran, Garry was not quite ready to embrace full retirement. Garry made a list of his goals and at the top was a desire to move into a community where he could use his skills. Since moving into his new community, Garry has found satisfaction in preparing tax returns.
Garry, with a smile, says he feels at peace now. His new community has given him interesting people to talk with and he loves the freedom to leave the building whenever he wants to. The CTS program helped him obtain things to make his apartment a home and he recommends the program to those who find themselves in a similar situation.
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