MANUALITO COMES HOME
Mary and her brother, Manualito*, have lived together ever since Mary's parents died. Mary promised her parents that she would care for her brother who has total care needs. But a day came when Mary had a stroke leaving her blind in one eye and with paralysis over half of her body. Manual went into a nursing home until Mary was able to care for herself again. Bringing Manual home was not easy, but with P&A's assistance Mary succeeded in bringing Manualito home in an ambulance.

Years went by with Mary successfully caring for her brother in spite of her own medical issues. However, another day came when Mary's heart was not pumping well and a wound on her leg wouldn't heal. Her doctors placed her back in the hospital and moved Manualito to a nursing home again. This time, Mary herself was sent to the same nursing home as her brother. She healed well enough to return home herself, but needed some supports this time to care for her brother's multiple daily needs.
Because Manualito is on Medicaid, he is eligible for personal care attendant services. P&A scheduled a home health care agency to meet with Manualito and Mary in the nursing home to fill out paperwork so that an attendant could come into Mary's home and bathe and feed Manualito once he was ready to return. One of the attendants in the nursing home quit his job so that he could work for Manualito in Mary's home and receive almost twice the pay he was receiving at the nursing home.
On July 1st the ambulance picked up Manualito at the nursing home and brought him back to his own room in the north valley. The celebration ended with a chocolate milkshake for all and the peace of mind that only sleeping in your own bed can bring.