West Cook News

As COVID-19 closures have meant no visitors at the community homes that serve developmentally disabled adults in the suburbs, staffers have made a difficult situation more manageable by bringing dance contests, poetry readings and piano concerts into daily basic care.

“It turns out we have quite a few pianists, and they really like performing,” Bill Dwyer, president and CEO of the Helping Hand Center in Countryside told the West Cook News.

A total of 76 adults, ranging in age from 20s to 80s, live in Helping Hand’s 12 suburban residences, known as community integrated living arrangements (CILAs). Each houses six or seven clients, who work with direct support personnel (DSP) to become as autonomous as possible, Dwyer said.

With the onset of the coronavirus, the DSP have stepped in to keep the residents’ spirits up, Dwyer said, adding, “The hardest part has been getting clients to understand why we can’t be with other people or working right now, when that really is a driver for them. They need socialness, that is wearing on them right now. A family member donated a Roku player so everyone has the Disney Channel, and now that it’s warmer they do get outside.

“But they want to do more than that; they want to see their friends, and their girlfriends and boyfriends. I hear that a lot, too.” 

In addition to daily special activities, there are virtual sessions with Helping Hand’s staff therapists. As restrictions ease, visits might resume soon.

“We’re, hopefully, going to open up to visitors again in July, but if one person gets sick, that could affect six to seven other people, so I have to be a little bit strict,” said Dwyer, who maintains regular contact with all the houses and residents’ family members.

There has been an influx of support from Countryside’s business community, including Via Bella restaurant, which donated meals to each of the 12 houses every week in April, plus additional pizza nights. The residents made handmade cards to thank the owner for all the deliveries and food. Nyco, a cleaning products manufacturer, has donated hand sanitizer.

Walmart also has donated supplies, and community members have contributed face masks.

The pandemic means Helping Hand also has had to adjust plans for its annual gala, Dwyer said, but they will hold one virtually June 19 at 7 p.m. Virtual attendance is free to all.

The entertainment lineup includes band numbers, guest speakers and an auction, Dwyer said, and they will also unveil a new mission statement that reflects how Helping Hand works to transform lives through genuine care and education.