Cascade Connections Supported Living (East Lynden)
This is Kemuel, one of the newer members of Cascade Connections Supported Living community in East Lynden. Kem is a sweet, empathetic young man who enjoys basketball, puppetry, and bike-riding.
Kem began receiving Cascade Connections’ supported living services in the summer of 2023, when he was 28 years old. Before he moved out of his parents home and into his new environment, Kem’s Cascade Connections care team spent about three months getting to know him. Staff met with Kem and his parents to learn what Kem likes to do when relaxing at home. We joined Kem and his family for library visits, to get to know how Kem interacts with community members. In collaboration with Kem’s guardians and other stakeholders, Kem’s team worked hard to develop a care plan that would support his health and happiness.
Kem’s first night in his own home was the first night he had stayed anywhere without his family! Moving out of his family home and beginning his new life was an emotional transition for Kem as well as his family and staff. However, thanks in part to the incredible involvement of Kem’s loved ones and the support of his caring staff, Kem is now thriving in a supported living environment with some new opportunities and choices.
In the several months since, our Supported Living services in East Lynden have provided an encouraging combination of structure and independence to Kem’s life. Diet and exercise changes have helped him lose over 60 pounds and increase his mobility, activity, and stamina. When we interviewed Kem recently, he confirmed that he’s feeling a lot better at his new weight!
Kem also has developed some new personal care skills and routines that increase his independence and quality of life. After his support staff Robin carefully walked him through the steps of showering independently, Kem began taking his showers without assistance. Robin reports that Kem expressed a lot of excitement over his first independent shower, exclaiming, “I did it myself!!”
Kem has achieved some work goals as well. Currently, he does trash pick-up at a couple of sites in Bellingham and is working on gradually increasing his work time. Just recently, he increased his shift by 15 minutes! He also likes coming home to his new house. When asked how he feels about his new house, Kem replied: “I love it!”
Meanwhile, Kem has built some new relationships in the Cascade Connections community and beyond. He gets along well with his roommate Nicole, and he sometimes goes walking or bike riding around his neighborhood with friends from our East Lynden community. He also likes going to concerts by local band Out of the Ashes. Other outings that Kem enjoys include library visits, local parks, spin dances, and trips to the mall, where he gets to look at all the shops, people watch, and eat at Panda Express (his favorite restaurant).
Kem receives support from several different Cascade Connections staff, including Holley, Ryan S., Jayna, Ben, Michael, Dahren, Itzel, Pancho, Marty, Robin, Kelsey, and Brianna. Kem says he likes hanging out with his staff and finds them helpful as he completes various tasks. Staff have supported Kem in expanding his cooking and baking skills. Kem reports that his favorite thing to cook at home right now is chicken, and that he baked Christmas cookies with Robin this past December. Kem also mentioned that he particularly loves Christmas and really enjoys listening to Christmas music and gospel music.
Kem also loves his family and stays in close touch with them. He sees his parents every week and likes talking to his sister Talia in Seattle. Kem’s parents have remarked on Kem’s growing independence. His father, Gary, reports: “After an outing or an event with us, when staff arrive to take Kem home, he is very willing to leave. This is a surprising and delightful adjustment for him! Kem used to beg to move back in with us when he first started out in Supported Living, but now he is happy to return to his new home. This change suggests that his new home environment is supportive and interesting for him. This was our hope in deciding for this huge step in his life, after being with his family all the time for 28 years.”
Kem’s older brother Joe, who sometimes stops by Kem’s new place, has also commented on Kem’s success in Supported Living: “I can’t say enough about how good the staff has been whenever I’m there, helping him work through things, helping with life skills and stuff. He’s becoming more communicative with me… he speaks up and talks about things more. And I think having other people to talk with, helping him interact with more people, has just been great.”
This increased communication bodes well for Kem achieving more of his goals, which include meeting more new people and making friends. Kem’s future goals also include having a garden, where he hopes to grow his favorite foods: strawberries and blueberries! Kem’s Cascade Connections care team is very excited to support Kem in pursuing these and other goals he comes up with over time. Welcome, Kem! We love having you in our community!
