The name of the person supported in this story has been changed to protect his privacy.
Trevor, a support worker at Kingfisher Home, shared how a recent move into the newly renovated home has meant transformative change in the life of Kevin, one of the men who moved into the home.
It’s 7 pm and we’re getting ready to go to Mill Lake for a walk around the park. Kevin has turned back into the house to get his favourite baseball cap before he gets into the van. We’re all looking forward to the evening. It has finally cooled down a little and there’s a festival happening in the park with music and food. We’ll get some ice cream, and it will be an enjoyable way to pass the evening.
Kevin is enjoying life these days. It wasn’t always this way. In February 2023, Kevin and his three housemates moved from their old home into a newly renovated and accessible home, and that was the beginning of positive transformation.
In the old home, Kevin somehow got stuck in a few unhelpful habits that ended up limiting his opportunities. His choice of eating out was predictable, always the same burger restaurant. New dining experiences were of no interest to him. His preferred shower time and routine was also holding him back. Trevor explains, “He was spending his evenings on a shower routine that included a lengthy towel-folding exercise. We could see that he was missing out on experiences in the evenings that would have brought him joy and growth because his showers left no time for anything else.”
Between a living space that was structurally limiting, with inconveniences and restrictions built-in to the layout, and the inertia that tends to block us from seeing a better way of doing things, Kevin was held back from living a richer life.
Moving into the new home provided an opportunity for the men to try new ways of doing things and expand their worlds. Prior to the move, Kevin’s keyworker, Corrie, spent a lot of time with him developing and preparing different practices for the new home. For Kevin, the improved layout of the home and newness of everything, and encouragement from staff, convinced him to switch his shower to the mornings. The time-consuming towel-folding stopped and with that, suddenly his evenings were available, enabling him to participate in activities that he previously missed out on.
What happened next was truly unexpected. Trevor says, “He’s doing things he’s never done before. Now when we ask him if he wants to go to his go-to burger restaurant, he shakes his head and says, he wants to think about it, and then suggests something new! He’s willing to try different foods. And he himself initiates new things; he doesn’t wait for us to make suggestions.”
In the end, it was the change in living environment that catalyzed this remarkable progress. The new house presented a different setting, with rearranged items and a spacious, accessible bathroom. The towels were stored in a new location, and suddenly, showering in the morning made perfect sense to Kevin.
Ron, the manager of the home, says, “It’s great now. Being in the new home has changed things, especially for a couple of the men. When we told them that the new home has new opportunities and practices, that made it so much easier for them to agree to changes.” Seeing the transformation in their lives is incredibly encouraging to the staff. He adds, “We care deeply about these guys. It’s so great to see them settle into their new home. It is encouraging to see the men develop new interests and skills.”
Moving into a new home provided an opportunity to establish new practices. They were empowered to let go of practices that may have been holding them back. And for a couple of the men, they have been able to try new things that have opened up possibilities.
Going for walks in parks and around the neighbourhood is just one of the activities Kevin now enjoys during his after dinner time.
