The Bridge Center 4

When trust is broken, what comes next? In this episode, Rosa confronts the aftermath of a staffing issue at The Bridge Center that left her son Jo Jo unsettled—and left her shaken. As the center works to rebuild trust, Rosa and Jorge step into new roles as advocates, both within their family and in their community. This episode explores the emotional ripple effects of inadequate care, the power of parent-led change, and what it takes to ensure day programs are truly safe and supportive for the people who need them most.

Transcript

0:09

Welcome back to Take Care Time, the Tales and Exhales of Caregivers. I'm your host, Beverly Nance, and this is episode four of our series, the Bridge Center, a deep dive into adult day programs and the families who rely on them. Last time we uncovered a painful truth. A new hire at the Bridge Center. A young and untrained staffer named Jamie Peterson was not just unqualified, but her lack of understanding, put participants like jojo at risk. Rosa trusted the program and that trust was shaken, but Rosa did what so many caregivers must do. She paid attention and she asked questions, and she spoke up. Her advocacy led to change. Jamie was removed. But even when a problem is resolved, the aftershocks linger. Today's episode is about those aftershocks. What happens after the red flag? How do you rebuild trust? How does a family move forward once the very place they hope would bring stability, has caused doubt? And how do you teach a system to listen before a crisis happens? This is episode four after the shakeup. It is been three days since Jamie was let go on the outside. Everything at the bridge center looks the same. The van arrives on schedule. Jojo walks to the door with his usual quiet steps Lisa the transportation aide greets him with her familiar smile. But inside Rosa, things are different. As the van drives away, Rosa doesn't wave This time, she stands still. Arms crossed. Jaw tight. She still remembers the look on Jojo's face when he came home quiet. She still replays the way he clutch his sleeve, the bruise, the silence, and worst of all, the not knowing She turns in her driveway and walks into the house and sits at the kitchen table, phone in hand. She knows what she has to do next. Later that day, Rosa arrives at the Bridge Center, not as a drop off parent, but as an advocate. She's there to meet with the program director, Ms. Gilis, the two sit across from each other in the director's office, a cheerful room with bulletin boards covered in laminated calendars and activity snapshots. I appreciate you meeting with me. Rosa begins. Her tone is measured, but firm. I need to understand what kind of accountability exists here. How Jamie was hired, what kind of training she had, and what's changing now. Miss Gillis nods. Rosa, I want you to know that this wasn't taken lightly. Jamie was removed. We're reviewing our onboarding practices. But Rosa presses further, that's not enough. How are staff being trained for people like jojo? What's the ratio of trained versus new staff? What happens the next time someone slips through? Is not an angry Confrontation is something more powerful. A caregiver demanding clarity. Ms. Gillis concedes that funding limits the type of training they can offer. We rely on state Medicaid reimbursement. It's not much. We do the best we can. Rosa doesn't flinch. Doing the best shouldn't mean doing the minimum. The meeting ends with Ms. Gillis promising to arrange additional staff development and a plan to involve parents in shaping future trainings back in the group room, jojo. Senses the change in energy. Daniel is back as his consistent staff member and the atmosphere is more predictable. Again, predictability is everything for jojo. It's how he makes sense of the world. But even with Jamie Gone, something lingers. Jojo is cautious. He walks slower. He clutches his hoodie tighter. He doesn't hum as often. Daniel notices. During a quiet hour, he sits beside Jojo in the music room, playing a familiar tune from the Bluetooth speaker, something from Jojo's preferred playlist. Jojo looks toward the speaker then at Daniel just for a moment. He rocks back and forth quietly, gently progress that day. Daniel writes in Jojo's notes. Responded to music. Calmer today. Still hesitant in transitions. Healing takes time, but it begins with feeling safe again at home. George Senior returns from a long haul. He's tired, but he's been following everything. Rosa kept him updated during the Jamie ordeal, but now he wants to take more responsibility One evening after dinner. He says, I want to go with you next time to the center. I wanna see for myself. Rosa is surprised you've never gone before. I know he says, but I should have. I want to understand what Jojo's days are like. A few days later, George and Rosa attend the Bridge Center's open house. George watches Daniel interacting with jojo patient, consistent kind. He walks through each room, reads activity boards, and takes in the energy of the place on the ride home. He says, it's better than I expected, but it still needs work. Rosa smiles. That's how I feel every day at the Bridge Center. A staff training session is underway for the first time. It includes a parent panel. Rosa is one of the speakers. She stands before a group of aide and case managers. Some knew, some seasoned, she tells Jojo's story not just about the bruise, but about what it felt like to hand over her son to trust strangers with his care and what it felt like when that trust was shaken. She doesn't shout, she doesn't cry. She just tells the truth. One staff member raises their hand. What's the best way we can earn A parent's trust? Rosa answers. Simply listen. See our kids learn who they are, not just their diagnosis. And when something doesn't feel right, say something, even if it's uncomfortable. not long after Rosa is invited to join the County's Family Advisory Council for Developmental Disability Services. It's a volunteer role, but it gives her a seat at the table where policy meets practice. She learns more about funding structures, provider regulations, and the challenges program directors face. But she also brings something vital to the conversation lived experience. Rosa begins working with a small team of caregivers to draft a proposal for state level training standards. The goal ensure every new hire and day programs receives meaningful orientation, not just policies, but people first training. The proposal includes caregiver videos, testimonials, and checklists for sensitivity and communication. It's not law yet. It's just a seed, but it's planted. The aftermath of a shakeup is a chance to rebuild. But better. Rosa and George didn't stop at protecting their son. They stepped forward into a larger fight for consistency, for training, for dignity. Jojo too is adjusting slowly the humming returns. His routines settle. And while he may never say with words how he feels, his rhythm steady, ensure is his own kind of gratitude. Adult day programs should never just be a place to go. They should be places of safety, of structure, of potential, but that only happens when caregivers speak up, when staff listen, and when systems change from the inside out. in our future episodes, we'll meet with new families navigating their first experience with the waiting list for services and how uncertainty of the not yet can shape your entire life. Because for every jojo who gets a spot, there are hundred still waiting. If you've ever faced a broken system, we wanna hear from you. Reach out at podcast@takecaretime.com. And remember, there is power in your voice. There is strength in your advocacy, and there is always time to care. Thank you for listening. If you are a parent or caregiver beginning to search for an adult day program. There are a few essential things to look for and questions to ask to help ensure your loved one is entering a safe, supportive, and enriching environment. Observe staff interactions. Do staff members treat participants with respect and patience? Are they engaged, attentive, and calm? Your loved one will spend many hours with these individuals. Watch how they interact. Ask about training. What kind of training do new staff receive? Is it ongoing? Ask specifically about training for communication, behavior, support, family and safety procedures. Check the staff to participant ratios. The lower the ratio, the more personalized care your loved one will receive. Make sure staffing is adequate, especially for participants with high needs. Request a copy of the daily Schedule. A quality program offers structure and variety. Things like music, movement, arts and life skills, not just television or idle time. Tour all areas of the facility look beyond the main room visit. Restrooms, quiet spaces, outdoor areas. Are they safe? Are they clean and sensory friendly. Understand the use of individualized service plans. ISPs should guide your loved one's day. Ask how staff implement these plans and how often they're updated. Ask how concerns are handled. What's the process if you raise an issue? Is there an open line of communication with leadership? Listen to your gut. If something doesn't feel right, don't ignore it. You are the expert on your loved one. Trust your instincts. Choosing a day program is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make As a caregiver, take your time, ask hard questions, and stay involved because your voice, just like Rosa's, is a powerful tool for change. To make things easier, we've created a printable day program evaluation checklist. You can take this checklist with you on your tours. It includes all the questions and observations shared in this episode. Designed to help you make informed decisions with confidence. Download your free checklist@takecaretime.com slash checklist. Take it with you, print copies for other families, and use it as your guide while navigating the search for the right day program. As you advocate, investigate, and show up day after day. Don't forget, caregivers need care too. The take care time respite box is curated just for you. Each box is filled with soothing items and self-care tools designed to help you recharge during your moments of rest. Whether it's calming, teas, comfort, snacks, puzzles, or gentle reminders that you matter too. This box is an invitation to pause because you can't pour from an empty cub. Treat yourself or a fellow caregiver to the take care time, respite box. You deserve care every day, not just someday. Please note that this episode features reenactments. And dramatized details. While in most cases the exact verbatim dialogue may not be known, all dramatizations are grounded in thorough research and crafted to honor the stories shared to respect the privacy and confidentiality of individuals involved names, and some identifying details have been changed. Until next week, take care.