Two of the individuals that live in the home Christina Brown manages have been living together for 30 years.
“They take care of each other when needed, but they bicker like an old couple about the smallest things,” Christina said. “It can be entertaining.”
When Christina started in that house five years ago, there were challenges. “At first, they don’t let you in. You can say they are protective of their home. So it took a while for them to warm up to me. Now we know each other inside and out. When you get to know the people that live here, you can see how much fun they are, you eventually fall in love with each of them,” she said of the two men and two women residents.
Today, when she walks into the Pittsfield house, she is summonsed by each of them, including the non-verbal residents who greet her with excitement.
The hardest part during COVID has been the cabin fever, she said. “They all count on enjoying the community,” she said. “We have a great team of staff here, so everyone engages them in a number of ways, but it’s not the same as attending their Day Programs, or visiting stores.”
The four residents routinely accompanied staff on work errands that included food shopping, a trip to Target for a house item perhaps, a downtown stroll, or a snack run, for example. “It can be frustrating. We drive them around if they want that, but that doesn’t always do the trick. It’s nice that things are opening up.”
Fortunately, the house avoided quarantining from COVID. Only one staff person tested positive, but that person never had not been at work during the infected period.
“That we stayed safe is totally a credit to the staff who works here,” she said. “I don’t know how they pulled it off, but they did.”
Her BCArc Start
Christina started at BCArc five years ago in an overnight position in the same house she manages now. The job allowed her to sleep, but also required her to conduct the occasional fire drill, and be ready to help the residents if called upon.
Her mother worked in special needs in the schools, so the disability community was known to her. “I was not familiar with the adult population, so I was unsure what to expect, but I immediately loved it.”
From her overnight position she moved to assistant manager. “At that point I had a strong relationship with each of the individuals in the house.” And last July she was made Site Manager.
The path was bumpy at times, she said, with one individual hospitalized twice for lengthy stays. “Someone on staff visited him every day, we had to make sure he was comfortable physically and emotionally,” she said. “Fortunately all the nurses loved him and understood what he needed.”
Christina is quick to sign on for open shifts when needed, due to the challenge to hire staff in the Berkshires. “I’m always happy to be here, it’s my second home. I’d do anything for them.”
