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Judy C.
Judy, a native of Rochester, New York, is 57 years old and has lived in Santa Monica since 1972. Prior to 1993, Ms. C. enjoyed a full, vibrant life dedicated to a job that she loved at a hospital where she worked for 21 years. She spent her leisure time reading, taking classes and enjoying movies. In 1993, an automobile struck her as she walked in downtown Santa Monica.
After one and a half years of hospitalization and rehabilitation, Judy's speech is almost undecipherable due to permanent brain damage. She is also paralyzed throughout most of her body with little or no use of her feet and legs. A caregiver is with Judy nine hours each day providing for her personal care needs and other in-home services. At night, she is alone, depending upon neighbors when she needs help. She entertains herself by reading and watching the history channel on television. She recently received a DVD player donated by her doctor. She is delighted that she can now watch movies, a pleasure that she has missed for many years.
She has used the WISE vans since 1995 and depends upon the service to transport her and her care giver to speech therapy classes twice a week.
Judy works diligently to maintain a positive outlook. She desperately misses her previous level of independence, but feels privileged to have supportive friends, neighbors, and family. She has used the WISE vans since 1995 and depends upon the service to transport her and her care giver to speech therapy classes twice a week. Her needs are great, both financially and physically. She depends upon a monthly social security check and a small pension, both of which often fall short in meeting her financial needs. She feels a need for additional caregiver hours, but realizes that she cannot afford the shared cost for the additional hours. Her optimism begins to fade as she thinks about the future and wonders how she will manage.
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