Coming home at last

NEWTON FALLS - Never in the wildest dreams of Lila Grafton did she expect to be in a nursing home for more than eight years.

A stroke in 1990 put her there, and continued strokes kept her there - that was, until Wednesday.

Grafton, 66, left Washington Square in Warren and moved into her own space at Newton Manor Apartments in Newton Falls.

''I feel good about it, to be able to have some ladies come over, have a cup of coffee with them, talk about things in general,'' Grafton said, finally, after nearly a decade, feeling a sense of independence.

Grafton said she never wanted to stay long in the nursing home after getting sick and never gave up on the notion that she would be on her own again.

''I prayed about getting out of there, prayed, prayed and prayed,'' Grafton said. ''Sometimes he says 'no' but he answered mine,'' Grafton said.

Her moving is part of the state's Home CHOICE Program, which helps Ohioans leave institutions and live independently with some assistance through programs like PASSPORT, which offers a variety of service from meals to chores like laundry and shopping to personal care.

Also included is a $2,000 stipend, which in Grafton's case allowed her to purchase a bed and couch. It also can be used for down payment and rental assistance and utilities.

Aides will stop by daily at Grafton's home.

Home CHOICE is run through the ombudsmen program of the Area Agency on Aging 11 Inc., which in the last year has moved 18 people out of nursing homes and back into the community. There are about 40 people working with ombudsman in the program.

Area agency longterm care ombudsman Jaime Watkins helped settle Grafton into her new home.

''She (Grafton) couldn't believe it. She couldn't grasp this was happening because she had been in that facility for over eight years,'' Watkins said.

Lisa Solley, area agency chief of community relations, wellness and training, said the program allows people in nursing homes who require some care, but not around-the-clock nursing, a chance a having a less restrictive, more independent life.

''You can actually have some assistance and remain in the community,'' Solley said.

Grafton said this Christmas is the first in a many in which her grandchildren, ages 18, 13 and 6, can visit in her own home. And her home is ready: Area agency staff has donated a Christmas tree and decoration as a house warming gift.

''I love it,'' she said, looking at the fully decorated tree.

rselak@tribtoday.com