OCO Family Care Program Offers Fulfillment

OSWEGO, NY – Five years ago Sue and Bill Rowe discovered a program that would enrich their lives and fill a need they were longing for.

The two were caregivers for Sue’s mother for a number of years. When her mother passed it left a void in her life. Being a caregiver was a role she cherished and with her mother no longer there life just wasn’t the same.

“I love helping people and looking after them,” said Rowe. “I missed that aspect of my life. I not only missed my Mom, I missed being able to take care of someone.”

Rowe had no idea that a lunch outing with her husband Bill would offer her the opportunity she was longing for. “When we were at Steph’s Place Diner in Pulaski, I noticed an ad on the placemat for Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) Family Care Program. The program sounded interesting, and I called to find out more about it. When Family Care Specialist Penny Foster-Pratt explained the program to me and told that she was looking for host homes in our area I knew I wanted to be part of the Family Care Program,” said Rowe.

Foster-Pratt met with the Rowes and explained that as a host home, they would give someone with a disability the opportunity to live and interact with their community. They would provide the resident with a private living space while offering support and guidance with their resident’s daily schedule.

“With my mom gone and our two adult children out on their own, our home felt empty. The thought of sharing our home and having the opportunity to care for someone once again was very appealing. After meeting with Penny, Bill and I decided that since our house was large enough, we chose to welcome two residents into our home.”

Once certified as a host home Foster-Pratt introduced the Rowes to Christine and Sandy to ensure their compatibility. That meeting was the beginning of a journey that would benefit both the residents and the Rowe’s.

Upon arriving at their new home Christine and Sandy were quite surprised to see that their new home offered much more than a quiet rural setting. They discovered that the Rowe residence was also home to quite an assortment of animals and pets. They were thrilled at the sight of the miniature horses, goats, alpacas, pot belly pigs, ducks, chickens, and turkeys. It was like a trip to a petting zoo, only they would be able to enjoy it every day.

Over the past five years the Rowe’s relationship with Christine and Sandy evolved greatly. Once settled in the two became much more than residents, they were family. There were rides in the country, lunch and dinner outings, shopping trips, even boat rides at Alex Bay. “We really enjoyed our time together and included them in all of our outings and family get togethers,” said Sue Rowe.

In addition to spending quality time together, Sue found it very rewarding to assist Christine and Sandy with their daily activities that included ensuring they were taking their medicines, getting them to doctor’s appointments and attending the day program at St. Luke’s.

“Penny was a great help,” said Rowe. “She helped with doctor appointments, arranging transportation when necessary, and was very understanding when it came to managing schedules. She also assisted with paperwork, ensured that guidelines are met, and offered emotional and financial support.”

“The past five years have been wonderful,” continued Rowe. “Bill and I have enjoyed having Christine and Sandy with us. It was rewarding to know that their needs were met and that they were able to active in the community.”

With the Rowe’s retiring and moving to Tennessee their time as a host home has come to an end. Christine will be welcomed into a new host home in the area while Sandy is moving to one of OCO’s Transitional Living apartments. As they prepare for retirement the Rowes look back fondly on their time as a host home and having Christine and Sandy in their life.

“Being a host home with the Family Care Program was everything I hoped it would be,” said Rowe. “It was just what Bill and I needed. It fulfilled the emptiness of no longer having my mom to care for and made our house feel more like a home again. We’ll miss Christine and Sandy but they will always be in our hearts. We are looking forward to seeing them when we come back to visit. We’ve already let them know that we will be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with them!”

“Sue and Bill were the epitome of what being a host home is all about,” said Foster-Pratt. “They took the Family Care Program to a new level. They were active participants in all the trainings and activities that the program offered and saw to it that their residents enjoyed their time together to the fullest. They went above and beyond as they sometimes volunteered to drive Christine and Sandy to doctor’s appointments and even accompanied them if needed. The impact that Sue and Bill had on Christine and Sandy is immeasurable. It was a wonderful experience, and everyone involved is better for it.”

OCO’s Family Care program is a NYS OMH certified residential program for adults with a disability. Through its host homes OCO’s Family Care program provides these individuals the opportunity to lead an active lifestyle and interact in their community. Due to the program’s success OCO is accepting references for residents and host homes in the Oswego, Fulton, Mexico, Phoenix, Hannibal, and Pulaski areas.

Interested in becoming a Family Care host home, or referring someone as a resident? Contact Penny Foster-Pratt at 315-806-5179 or visit www.oco.org.

Print this entry