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mals. But most of these people live by themselves. They have no contact with their family or they have no family in the area. They miss out on all the traditional social events. Here at Laurel House, they develop relationships with other people. They get involved; they interact. Without this human contact, they would regress and relapse.”
So in addition to the weekday program, the staff plans regular social activities, such as canoeing and hiking, on weekends. And they hold special holiday gatherings: a luncheon at Thanksgiving with turkey and all the trimmings, a party and gift exchange at Christmas.
Holding the range of programs and services together is the transportation system that brings the club members to Laurel House in the morning, takes them to and from job sites and returns them home in the afternoon. Mrs. Wright wants to see the routes expanded, but that takes additional funds and money is in short supply at the Community Services Center.
She concedes that it’s more likely the vans will run fewer miles, and that a route to Rappahannock County won’t be added in the near future. “We need more money so we can get the people here. Transportation is critical. Someone who has been in a state hospital for 10 years doesn’t have the money for gas, much less to buy a car, pay insurance and keep up maintenance on a vehicle. And in a rural area, there are no alternatives - there is no metro, no bus service.
“At Laurel House, we try to give the club members as much control over their lives as they’re willing to take, as they can take,” Mrs. Wright continued. “But if we can’t get them here, we can’t help them at all.”
(Next week: Goldsborough House, where Kenny has learned, the skills he needs to live independently.)
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