Senior Services Helps Man Find First Home Of His Own

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.


Pernell Bailey carefully unlocked his second-level apartment door.
Inside, he proudly and exuberantly opened each cabinet door in his favorite room of his apartment, his kitchen.
After revealing his cabinets fully stocked with food, and recently donated dishes, he showed off the remaining rooms and discussed his decorating plans. It’s been almost three weeks, but after moving in his couch and table, he’s planning all of the finishing touches.
At 67 years old, and for the first time in his entire life, he has his very own home.
Three months ago, Bailey was leasing a home with a few of his friends when a death and expenses forced him to move out. For months, he didn’t have running water and he thought his only option was to try living in a hotel until his money ran out. Fortunately for him, the Kosciusko Community Senior Services staff offered the help he needed and assisted him to find his home at Retired Tigers.
“They all took care of me really good,” Bailey said of the KCSS staff. “These people are great, I love them like brothers and sisters.”
KCSS worked as a team to help Bailey’s situation. Bailey even spent three days with KCSS transportation supervisor Bill Keen. Office Manager Carol Kreis also assisted Bailey with all of the Social Security and other necessary paperwork for his new home.
“The next day, I was in the office signing papers, and in the apartment from then on,” Bailey said. “I love it.”
KCSS Executive Director David Neff said when he was helping Bailey move all of his belongings into his new home, Bailey continuously asked where he was allowed to put everything.
“I kept saying, ‘Parnell, this is your place, you can put it wherever you want,’” Neff said.
Neff said KCSS works with Retired Tigers and both facilities sponsor events. He said their objective is to keep people in their homes as long as possible. He said they work very closely with Retired Tigers and all of the other nursing homes in town. At KCSS, the staff works diligently to find activities for seniors, host health seminars and exercise with chair aerobics to meet the needs to seniors. They also provide mobile meals, in-home cleaning services and have access to van transportation. When Bailey came to KCSS Neff knew they had to help him.
“It doesn’t always happen like this,” Neff said. “He has such a positive attitude.”
Bailey loves his kitchen, but said he is most excited about his air conditioning. He said he is also happy he doesn’t need to cut the grass or worry about water or electric anymore. He is able to go to church every Sunday, and he still goes to KCSS to volunteer with activities and get the residents involved.
Property Manager for Retired Tigers Karise Cooper-Wilson said the whole Retired Tigers team cooperated with KCSS to help make Bailey’s move progress quickly. Neff said if the two facilities didn’t work hand in hand, this move could have been impossible.
“It was definitely God’s design,” Cooper-Wilson said.
Cooper-Wilson said Bailey fits right in and has won over the residents and staff at Retired Tigers, and said he has made many new friends.
“He’s always willing to help someone," she said.
He is still getting settled into his new home, but the self-proclaimed Casanova said next month he will have everything put together.
“From where I was six months ago, I’ve accomplished a lot, and I had nothing like this” Bailey said. “Next month, I’ll have it looking like a palace.”
For more information about KCSS, visit www.kosciuskoseniorservices.org[[In-content Ad]]

Pernell Bailey carefully unlocked his second-level apartment door.
Inside, he proudly and exuberantly opened each cabinet door in his favorite room of his apartment, his kitchen.
After revealing his cabinets fully stocked with food, and recently donated dishes, he showed off the remaining rooms and discussed his decorating plans. It’s been almost three weeks, but after moving in his couch and table, he’s planning all of the finishing touches.
At 67 years old, and for the first time in his entire life, he has his very own home.
Three months ago, Bailey was leasing a home with a few of his friends when a death and expenses forced him to move out. For months, he didn’t have running water and he thought his only option was to try living in a hotel until his money ran out. Fortunately for him, the Kosciusko Community Senior Services staff offered the help he needed and assisted him to find his home at Retired Tigers.
“They all took care of me really good,” Bailey said of the KCSS staff. “These people are great, I love them like brothers and sisters.”
KCSS worked as a team to help Bailey’s situation. Bailey even spent three days with KCSS transportation supervisor Bill Keen. Office Manager Carol Kreis also assisted Bailey with all of the Social Security and other necessary paperwork for his new home.
“The next day, I was in the office signing papers, and in the apartment from then on,” Bailey said. “I love it.”
KCSS Executive Director David Neff said when he was helping Bailey move all of his belongings into his new home, Bailey continuously asked where he was allowed to put everything.
“I kept saying, ‘Parnell, this is your place, you can put it wherever you want,’” Neff said.
Neff said KCSS works with Retired Tigers and both facilities sponsor events. He said their objective is to keep people in their homes as long as possible. He said they work very closely with Retired Tigers and all of the other nursing homes in town. At KCSS, the staff works diligently to find activities for seniors, host health seminars and exercise with chair aerobics to meet the needs to seniors. They also provide mobile meals, in-home cleaning services and have access to van transportation. When Bailey came to KCSS Neff knew they had to help him.
“It doesn’t always happen like this,” Neff said. “He has such a positive attitude.”
Bailey loves his kitchen, but said he is most excited about his air conditioning. He said he is also happy he doesn’t need to cut the grass or worry about water or electric anymore. He is able to go to church every Sunday, and he still goes to KCSS to volunteer with activities and get the residents involved.
Property Manager for Retired Tigers Karise Cooper-Wilson said the whole Retired Tigers team cooperated with KCSS to help make Bailey’s move progress quickly. Neff said if the two facilities didn’t work hand in hand, this move could have been impossible.
“It was definitely God’s design,” Cooper-Wilson said.
Cooper-Wilson said Bailey fits right in and has won over the residents and staff at Retired Tigers, and said he has made many new friends.
“He’s always willing to help someone," she said.
He is still getting settled into his new home, but the self-proclaimed Casanova said next month he will have everything put together.
“From where I was six months ago, I’ve accomplished a lot, and I had nothing like this” Bailey said. “Next month, I’ll have it looking like a palace.”
For more information about KCSS, visit www.kosciuskoseniorservices.org[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092

e-Edition


e-edition

Sign up


for our email newsletters

Weekly Top Stories

Sign up to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday

Daily Updates & Breaking News Alerts

Sign up to get our daily updates and breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox daily

Latest Stories


Can Connor Cover? Parity Is The Name Of The Game, As Well As The Perfect Excuse
It appears the magic of last season has worn off completely.

Bowen Center
Notice of Intent

UN
Notice Of Unsupervised Administration
EU-000138 Poe

Notice Of Sheriff Sale
MF-000086

City of Warsaw
Notice to Bidders