 Barbara’s health had declined. She was an older woman with chronic medical conditions including severe asthma, hypertension, arthritis, and depression. She was almost bed-ridden and was told she might need to enter a nursing home unless her situation improved. She was referred to the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives for Seniors (PEARLS) program, and began receiving case management services from Carl, a specially trained counselor with the City of Seattle’s Aging and Disability Services.
As Barbara describes it, “Carl and I untangled the complicated ball of yarn that was my depression.” He helped create a list of causes of her depression and broke down each of her problems, making them seem more manageable. She started participating in activities she enjoyed, which helped her feel more positive about her life. As Barbara says “I started remembering my strengths and survival skills.”
Carl helped Barbara construct a plan that would have the best chance of success. According to Barbara, a significant strength of this program was that the counselor left the goal choices up to her, keeping her involved in the decision-making from the start. She began to build a sense of positive control over her life and started improving her health.
Barbara began keeping medical appointments that in the past she would have canceled, and returned to alternative healthcare treatments which had helped to better manage her hypertension. She also started an exercise regimen that improved her strength and confidence.
“When you consider that the whole PEARLS program has only eight sessions, my accomplishments were something close to a life-saving miracle.” Barbara received enormous benefit from the mental, emotional and physical lifestyle changes. According to Barbara, “I now believe in myself, and my ability to overcome my challenges. I can honestly say that the PEARLS Program not only saved my life, but it turned it around.”
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