We are excited to spotlight our client, Charlie! He is a member of the Coastal Havens community and lives with his housemate, Scott. Together, they bring joy, happiness, and a unique balance to both the community and their household. On October 18th, Charlie celebrated his 24th birthday with his Imagine staff, IHSS staff, and family.
Charlie is an amazing person and a vibrant spirit to have around. He is always ready to rock out and gives a thumbs-up to those around him. Charlie loves rock music, which he expresses by playing air guitar, asking staff to play music, or going on car rides to listen to it on loudspeakers. His passion for rock music is evident in the special jacket he wears, featuring his favorite band, Alice In Chains.
With so many people in his daily environment, Charlie enjoys exploring the Santa Cruz community, and long joyrides are definitely among his favorite activities, especially when accompanied by music. Like many, Charlie has a playful side; he enjoys watching and laughing at cartoons, with SpongeBob being his favorite. However, he is always open to watching different movies and cartoons with the staff.
Charlie appreciates seeing the different personalities among the staff and how they interact with him. He tends to be a laid-back person who loves to hang out, often giggling and laughing at the funny commotion around them at the Willow House. His relationship with Scott is particularly unique; despite their differences, with Scott being more energetic and vocal, Charlie seems content just to hang out and observe his housemate’s silly shenanigans.
Bringing positive energy, Charlie is a cherished addition to the cozy environment of the Willow House and the CHF community. We sincerely appreciate Charlie and all that he adds to our lives.
You are awesome Charlie. Rock on DUDE! *Thumbs up* *Air Guitar*
Submitted by Alexa
MARIANA, MARIANA, MARIANA!
Where do I even start? Mariana has been Sophies lead for almost two years and during those two years, their bond has morphed into something straight out of a Hallmark movie. It’s heartwarming to witness but also hilarious because Sophie does not hold back the eye rolls and attitude when Mariana says something Sophie doesn’t like.
Mariana, is the heart of the house and is often referred to just that way by Sophie’s team. She is an exceptional caregiver and always encourages Sophie to be as independent and involved as she can be while also making sure Sophie feels safe and secure. She is also a damn good cook. Like wow. Sophie truly lives the life of a Duchess.
Sophie’s home is also always so warm and inviting, and that is partially due to Mariana’s sunny disposition. I often leave Sophie’s home with sore cheeks from an hour straight of laughing, and I can’t thank Mariana enough for all the validation and encouragement she has given not only to Sophie but also to myself these past six months I’ve been Sophie’s facilitator.
This month’s staff spotlight is a special spotlight because this is a spotlight that was advocated from one of our clients. Our client would like to thank his caregiver, Fidel Zambrano, for going above and beyond in his help and support at work.
Fidel has a full time job during the week at another location and manages to be there available for our consumer during the weekend. Fidel covers many of the shifts that open up during the weekend and his support is felt by our consumer and the whole team. Fidel also has two little ones as seen in the picture Fidel “Jr” and Melanie who we are sure are very proud of him. Our client has a few staff in his team who are always willing to help when needed and we thank them for this but today it’s for Fidel Zambrano. Thank you!