I’m Danna and I’m the Medical Case Manager for Hospitality House. I connect our guests with medical services as well as handle their medical insurance needs.
This month, I have continued COVID-19 support within the shelter and the community. While we are still in shelter-in-place, we continue to adhere to the CDC guidelines when interacting with shelter guests and clients living on the streets. Fortunately, medical institutions have started to open back up which has allowed me to make progress in fulfilling medical needs for our clients. For one of my clients, we’ll refer to him as John, and this has meant we could again follow up on addressing his severe medical needs. This has included visits to oncology and urology doctors as well as attaining a new support boot to increase his mobility. As someone who is battling cancer, the postponement of his appointments has weighed heavily on him. Having been in a motorcycle accident several years ago that left him with a fused leg from the hip down, attaining the referral for a new boot was a huge win for him. He continues to stay in a hotel room provided by the County and we provide meals and continued case management. I have begun the extensive process of getting referrals for John so that when the time comes, he is able to access hospice services and be provided quality end of life care if he so chooses. Accessing end of life care is never an easy decision to come to terms with for anybody. It is my hope that with continued support from myself and other case managers he will feel comfortable making the decision that’s in his best interest whether that’ll be pursuing in home care or entering a care facility.
We made it! Thank you to everyone who helped us hit our match this past May. Your donations help people in crisis receive a night of emergency shelter with wraparound services, such as food, clothing, job training, mental health counseling, transportation to medical, and customized case management to return to stable housing, on top of supplies and the support needed to make it through the pandemic. Support of any kind is welcome and most appreciated.
Normally at this time we thank all the cook groups who came and cooked over the last week, but to keep our shelter safe amid COVID-19, our cook groups are supporting our meals by donating financial support and food, and Chef Chris is safely cooking all meals instead. We’d like to thank Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains, Calvary Bible Church of Grass Valley, St. Patrick’s Rookies, Jazzercize, The Home team and Crossroads Church. A big thank you also to@friar for hosting a food fundraiser for us too. To everyone who donated our most needed items last week, thank you as well!
Now down to the nitty gritty needs of the shelter for this week…
• Tylenol (not ibuprofen)
• Adult coloring books
• Colored pens and pencils
• Any crafts that can be done by one person
• Deodorant
• Bleach
Anyone who has upgraded their personal assist devices, and have old ones just lying in their dresser drawer, please consider donating these gently used items:
• Diabetes test kits (Glucose meter & test strips)
• Hearing aids, any condition
• Eyeglasses, any kind
• Earplugs
We will be delighted to have these items for repurposing to any shelter guests with those specific needs.
Please drop off urgent items to Utah’s Place, located in Brunswick Basin, past the DMV, at 1262 Sutton Way. For a tax receipt, please ring the doorbell and wait for someone to come outside to assist you. We greatly appreciate the community’s help at such times of certainty. If we all stick together, we’ll get what we need. Thank you!
