In meeting with and listening to staff, clients, and members, we hear that many individuals at Telecare programs seem to be alone in life. Making and building strong, supportive connections takes time. Past hurts and trauma can make it hard for clients and members to engage and trust others. Individuals need to re-learn skills and practice. In the video to the right, one Telecare HOMES member illustrates the power of connection through their story.

Do you remember when you were growing up being taught the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? We were taught that so we could remain strong when we were bullied or disrespected by others. However, you might also remember that while you weren’t physically harmed by another person’s words, their hurtful language left an invisible wound that sometimes took longer to heal than a physical wound might have.