Mark's Story

Mark sharing his daughter's story at Continuum's 50th Anniversary Celebration

I have 10 years of first-hand experience with the services that Continuum of Care offers and the manner in which they discharge them. They provide comprehensive community-based residential and support services that enable their patients to live as fully and independently in the community, as is possible to expect given some of the severe cases they manage — sometimes very severe developmental disabilities.

They are good at what they do because of the skills, talents and dedication of staff, but also because they have done this for a long time — 50 years — and this is evident in the quality of the care they provide and the improvement in the quality of life that I have witnessed in clients. In particular, I appreciate the fact that they help their clients to develop independent skills, offering them the broadest array of choices and taking the preferences of their clients in account — simply put, their clients come first.

Anyone who needs care, is a caregiver, or is close to either, understands only too well how fragmented the whole system of care can be. Continuum of Care really comes into their own by coordinating between the different agencies and integrating community-based care providers covering clinical, homecare, psychological and behavioral care. This makes a huge difference, and as anyone in the care business knows, the things in life, often taken for granted by most, count for a lot.

Let me also tell you a little about my daughter who is a resident of Continuum of Care. She has been disabled her entire life, suffering from uncontrollable seizures and the long term effects of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. My daughter has been institutionalized since the age of 13 and has undergone multiple hospitalizations and surgeries. Through all of her challenges I have learned that, in the end, her care and development is most dependent on that first line of caregivers that support her day in and day out. For my daughter, this can be a fearful experience. Since arriving at Continuum of Care, she has gone from a scared and confused young lady to a trusting and loved young woman, one who feels supported and safe. She is more able to handle her day-to-day challenges and participate in as independent a life as I could have wished for her. As a parent, I cannot describe how wonderful that makes me feel. Now when I return my daughter to her residence she runs up the porch to share her day with her peers and staff. She's home.

I am proud to support Continuum of Care.

Won’t you consider helping us to provide peace of mind for a parent like Mark?

 

 

How Your Donation Can Help the Son or Daughter of a Parent Like Mark:

  • $500 Can pay the security deposit for someone transitioning out of homelessness into an apartment
  • $250 Can purchase furniture for a new apartment
  • $200 Purchases a “New Home Basket” with kitchen, bathroom, and cleaning essentials
  • $150 Can buy basic items not covered by medical insurance, like eyeglasses and dentures
  • $100 Helps pay heat, electric, and water bills
  • $50 Can provide necessities like clothes, underwear, socks, and duffle bags
  • $40 Helps pay for a month’s worth of daily bus passes for travel to appointments or a job
  • $25 Can pay for groceries
  • Other All donations directly benefit those who are in our care or are transitioning out to their own apartment

Other Ways You Can Help:

  • $5,000  You can “Adopt a Group Home” operated by Continuum. (Continuum operates 44 group homes in Connecticut, helping individuals to stabilize and live in the community. Just like any home, upkeep and maintenance are ongoing demands.)
  • $2,000  You can help improve the critical health conditions faced by those with serious mental illness by supporting Continuum's Health and Wellness Department.

Continuum of Care, Inc.’s mission is to enable people who are challenged with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, addiction, or homelessness to rebuild a meaningful life and thrive in the community.