Tyler is 53 years old and started working when he was 14.  Since the age of 21 he has lived in a group home and he has lived alone in a third floor walk up apartment.  He had friends in Sunday school, Boy Scouts, Special Olympics, and work.  Each move he has made has been his decision.  When someone talked about moving to an apartment Tyler thought 'I can do that'.  He has done more than anyone has expected.  The Department of Transportation was a job that had him on a bus and subway after he got himself up for work and made his breakfast.  When diabetes was diagnosed he lost that job and has worked for the last 20 years at a grocery store.  Again he sees and hears people moving on, having retirement parties, so for the last several years we have heard him talk about retiring.  Vanguard Landing seemed like a perfect place to move on and retire.  So he very happily moved with his parents to Virginia Beach anticipating a move into Vanguard Landing.  He left just before the big snow storm in January so he didn’t have to worry about getting across the snow piles and the streets of Falls Church.

Tyler had hydrocephalus when he was born and it was not diagnosed until he was 18 months old.  The damage that was caused to his brain has left him with two shunts, spasticity in his muscles, and his intellect compromised.  Twenty five years ago he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  So you see the problem, he will and does need help.

Tyler has put together a bench for the front porch of his residence in Vanguard Landing with the anticipation of inviting others to sit and join him.  He has finished the diamond dot picture that will go over the fuse box and his Native American pictures are waiting to be hung.  In May he very proudly helped move his furniture, from forever, into his future bedroom at Vanguard Landing.  He was looking forward to making new friends, walking on level ground, seeing people he can talk to on a daily basis, and eating with others — no more TV dinners.  He has requested a rain gauge, humming bird feeder, and an indoor-outdoor thermometer.  Those things we can give him but we can’t be the companions that he needs.  He likes people and he hoped to find some new people here in Virginia Beach.

It is time for Tyler to retire so when you see him crossing on the crosswalk or sitting on his bench know that he is happy not to have to step over curbs, go up stairs, cross snow banks and busy streets, or listen to his neighbors in the middle of the night.  He is happy to sit on the bench and welcome a new friend, talk about what he has done and what he hopes to do.

Tyler will always need help with the brittle diabetes, organization of doctors, and finances. It was a relief for him to find out about Vanguard Landing because it has what he needs.  We are asking CMS to approve Vanguard Landing for Medicaid home and community-based services so he can use his waiver-funded supports in the home he has chosen.