Jenny’s Story

What does it mean to be part of a guardianship success story? If you ask Public Guardian Services Care Manager Betsy Frye, she thinks of her client Jenny finally finding the right place to call home and, as Betsy puts it, “getting the opportunity to reach the full potential she always had.”

One of PGS’s youngest clients, Jenny’s story is one of collaboration between several providers, agencies, and a Care Manager who never lost sight of what Jenny wanted for her own life.

At just 56 years old, Jenny lives with cognitive delays and mental health challenges. She had been estranged from much of her family for years and was living with her mother in a nursing home until her mother passed away. Suddenly, Jenny was left without someone to care for her. Because of the level of support she needed and having nowhere else to go, she remained in the nursing home — not because it was the right fit, but because there were few alternatives. Betsy became involved when it became clear that Jenny needed a legal guardian after her mother’s passing.

Despite everything she had been through, Betsy describes Jenny as remarkably young at heart and in appearance. 

“She’s got the secret to maintaining great skin,” Betsy laughs. “She wants to dress young. She wants to color her hair pink. She has her stuffed animals lined up on the bed.”

But while Jenny’s spirit remained bright, living in a nursing home was dimming that light.

“I don’t blame her,” Betsy says. “She would just keep telling me, ‘Everybody here is old.'”

By far the youngest resident in body and mind, Jenny never felt like she belonged there. When her mother was healthier, the two would leave the facility together, go shopping, browse stores, or simply enjoy getting out of the house. After her mother died, those outings came to an end. There was no one to take her, and staff at the facility couldn’t provide that kind of one-on-one support. She felt trapped. 

“All she wanted to do was window shop and go out to eat,” Betsy says. “Her dream was to get out of there.”

Beyond getting out of the nursing home, Jenny had dreams of living in a group home and working in a flower shop. Although she faced cognitive challenges, Betsy emphasizes that Jenny was remarkably clear about why the nursing home wasn’t the right place for her.

Physically, Jenny can walk, feed herself, bathe herself, and manage many of her daily routines. Where she needs support is with decision-making, managing finances, maintaining a home, and other everyday responsibilities that allow someone to live independently.

No matter the hurdles, Jenny knew the kind of life she wanted. Even if she didn’t always understand exactly how to get there or what supports she would need along the way, she was determined.  

It took more than a year of waiting for an opportunity to emerge. Through a specialized Department of Developmental Services (DDS) placement program, Jenny became eligible for a residential setting that better matched her needs. The housing itself wasn’t something Betsy could arrange on her own, but after spending so much time getting to know Jenny, she became an essential part of the process. 

That meant slowing conversations down as Jenny met with different providers, explaining unfamiliar concepts in concrete ways, and encouraging Jenny to ask questions about the things that mattered most to her instead of saying yes to everything. 

“It was really about breaking things down in a way that Jenny could understand,” Betsy says. 

It was also about making sure Jenny knew her safety and wishes were being prioritized. 

Over time, it became clear that a group home was the right fit. The transition would be unlike anything Jenny had experienced in years. Through funding provided by the placement program, her bedroom could be newly furnished to her liking, and she received new clothes and other essentials to help her settle into her new home.

“She didn’t have winter boots because she never went outside,” Betsy recalls. “She didn’t have a swimsuit because she never went swimming.”

Today, Jenny lives in a beautiful single-story home with five other women, each with their own bedroom. Her room is spacious and thoughtfully decorated with a queen-size bed, high-quality furniture, cat-themed decor, a large TV, and touches of her personality throughout. Best of all, her room has sliding glass doors that open to the outdoors. For someone who spent years rarely leaving a nursing home, something as simple as opening the door to fresh air and sunshine makes a world of difference. 

Betsy is quick to point out that even the happiest transitions take time. Jenny had spent years in an environment where the constant sound of televisions, ringing phones, and people coming and going was simply normal. Now, she’s adjusting to something entirely different: peace and quiet.

“It’s a night-and-day improvement,” said Betsy. 

When Betsy checks in with Jenny now, she doesn’t always remember exactly when things happened, but she eagerly shares the highlights. She’s learning to cook, going to dinners at Olive Garden and Ninety Nine Restaurant, trips to the beach (although she wasn’t too impressed with the rocks or the waves), swimming at the YMCA, endless window shopping, ice cream outings, birthday parties, cookouts, cheering participants at the Walk for Hunger finish line, and even attending an ’80s-themed party.

Most importantly, she’s made friends for the first time. 

The group home celebrates holidays together, keeps everyone active, and has given Jenny opportunities she never imagined while living in the nursing home.

Betsy is the first to acknowledge that there have been bumps along the way, and there will continue to be challenges. 

“She’s high risk of being taken advantage of,” Betsy says. 

Instead, she has a team of people advocating for her, supporting her, and helping her continue moving toward the life she’s always wanted. Betsy and Jenny’s care team are even exploring ways to help her find a job — maybe she could even volunteer at a flower shop like she’s been dreaming of. 

“This is a continuing success story because, with a guardian, Jenny will always have someone checking in and helping to make decisions,” Betsy says with a smile.

“I’m so happy for her. She is reaching her full potential.”