June 5th, 2012
Easter Seals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Tunnell Center, Disability Services, State of the Art Facility, Georgetown, Delaware
So you are wondering where am I going with this post. Or, questioning me; aren’t you supposed to be eating somewhere and giving us your personal opinion, or, going out and about the Delaware Beaches, shopping, perhaps?
My answer is that as a long time resident of the Delaware Beaches, learning about the programs and services in the area…well, I should have done that a long time ago. Maybe I am more matured now and don’t have to think just about myself; others are important too, especially the ones with special needs.
I started to ask a few this question: What comes to your mind when I mention Easter Seals? Almost everyone answered: the red seal? A few, just like myself, answered something like, children services.
So many people are choosing Southern Delaware as a place to retire; others like our communities, living at the beach, most will say low property taxes and tax free shopping.
Easter Seals will serve 24,000 and deliver one million hours of direct services. It is growing, innovating, and leading at the Delaware Beaches.
I was very pleased when a friend, Jamie, called me to invite me to see this amazing facility, which is the home of the Easter Seals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore; the Tunnell Center. She sits on its Advisory Board. It is located at 22317 DuPont Blvd., Georgetown, DE 19947. Tel. 302-253-1121, Fax 302-856-7296. Website? www.de.easterseals.com.
Delaware locations: Dover, Newark, New Castle, and Georgetown.
Maryland locations: Salisbury, and Chestertown
I am mainly concentrating on the one I visited in Georgetown, which is about half hour from Rehoboth Beach.
This state of the art building is 28,000 square feet. It is only about 6 years old. Beautifully landscaped. It offers a wide range of programs and services; from Children’s Therapy Services to Personal Attendant Services. All those services and everything you need to know about Easter Seals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore can be found at www.de.easterseals.com.
I had no pre-conceived ideas, so I could not wait to see it. Jamie met me at the door and then introduced me to Leslie Gale. She is the Community Relations Coordinator. Just in case you need to contact her, you can call 302-253-1121, or e-mail her at lgale@esdel.org.
The first you will notice is how quiet it is when you step into the building. It is located right on Rt. 113, which is a major highway; you don’t hear any sounds. The colors are soothing, chosen exactly for that purpose. A reception room with elevators and stairs.
The first thing Leslie showed me was a glass case containing different products that can be tested, before purchasing them, to see if the person that needs it likes them or can work with them. People with disabilities are able to remain in the work force despite a disabling condition. Maybe an alternate keyboard or mouse is all someone needs to help them be more productive at work.
Other products could help in the most simple ways; the cup with the two handles, for example.
Throughout the building there were rooms for different purposes.
A Conference Room completely set up for meetings, accommodating large groups.
A Game Room, which is still been furnished. Pool tables, television, and trains. There is a train club at Easter Seals.
Therapy Rooms. All rooms had windows and were light and airy; nothing crowded; all were so nicely kept.
Children receiving therapy services can be seen by parents through a one way window.
Kitchen.
This is a very active Easter Seals, with many activities scheduled, including trips and entertainment. There is a process, just like everything else, in order to receive services at this facility. First of all, evaluations. If you need the services please do not hesitate to call them.
One of their newest services is the Adult Day Care Services. I came into this room and some were already gone for a day trip. Others, were just around, playing cards, talking or doing other things. Nurses always around. One, in particular, tug at my heart. I don’t know his name. He was about 85 years old and in good shape. His wife had suddenly died after a fall, then he told me he had to put his dog to sleep. He was living with his daughter, and during the day he spent it at the Tunnell Center. But, what he was most upset about was that the Delaware State Police took his driver’s license. Between you and I, that was a good thing. What he really wanted to do was go fishing!!!
I thought about it for a moment. First, he was in a safe place and thank God for his daughter to help him out. Then, I was talking to the head nurse, which I know had a different title but was also a nurse. I told her I did not know if I could work there. And, this is what she told me: “I am a nurse, I have empathy, but you have to get beyond that; our mission here is to help them get better and be productive, so that they can have equal opportunities to live, work and play in their communities.” As simple as that, nothing else she needed to say; I understood.
The back of the door opened to beautiful gardens and a deck to sit out and enjoy the quietness and serenity of this environment.
Follow me through the walkway. Look how pretty it was.
From the back you can see another view of the building.
Another new service offered by Easter Seals is called In-Home Services. It offers stay at home support, companionship and peace of mind. This service is only offered in New Castle and Kent counties, at the moment. You can get started with a free evaluation. And please note, that if this is something you might be considering, the caregivers helping are employees of Easter Seals; not contractors. Each person is carefully screened with thorough background checks and are bonded and insured.
Summer is pretty much here and Easter Seals offers summer camp services. The camp is called Camp Fairlee Manor, located in Chestertown, Maryland. There are special camp sessions for kids and teens with Autism. Please visit www.de.easterseals.com.
Easter Seal Camp Fairlee Manor is the only camp in our region that provides a typical residential camp experience for children and adults with disabilities on a year-round basis.
My visit had come to an end. It was quite an experience. I even got to speak Spanish to a gentleman in the Adut Day Care.
I hope my friends read this post. So many are already involved in helping in the community. It is really something else to see us all “grow up”.
You want to help? Give them a Call. You want to give in other ways? Check the website.
I was at peace, definitely!! Thanks Leslie and Jamie for my candy!!
Information for this post was taken from the Easter Seals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
And, we did go out for lunch, afterall one needs to eat. Jamie, Leslie and I took off for the Brick Hotel; a post in the making.
Talk to you later…have a good one!!
Tags: Camp Fairlee Manor, Delaware, Delaware Beaches, Easter Seals, Easter Seals Delaware & Maryland's Eastern Shore, Easter Seals In-Home Services, Easter Seals Programs in Delaware, Easter Seals Programs in Sussex County, Georgetown, Maryland's Eastern Shore, People with Special Needs in Delaware, Services, Sussex County
