Man finds independence at ‘Garden Palace’
Friday, May 27, 2005 - Natalie Miller
With its five storeys, indoor courtyard and terraces off the dining room, Dave Brown is at home in his “palace.”

His living quarters house his new desk, where he retires to work on his crossword puzzles. While Dave can’t read or write, he enjoys filling in the little boxes with letters. He also has on hand his art supplies of crayons, stencils and paints, and his cassette collection of more than 200 tapes, primarily country and western music. In this 160-bed home, Dave has found his independence.

Garden Terrace Maintenance Manager Oscar Banos, front, and resident Dave Brown, who has chosen a new life for himself at the Kanata long-term care home.

The 56-year-old man, who has Down syndrome, is a resident of Garden Terrace, a long-term care home in Kanata.

In July 2004, while recuperating from hernia surgery, Dave stayed at the home for a short period of time for respite. During that stay, Dave, whose permanent residence was at home with his sister, brother and brother-in-law, grew attached to Garden Terrace.

“Garden Palace is what he calls it,” says Dave’s sister, Cindy.

When it was time for Dave to return home, he pleaded with Cindy to find a way for him to stay at Garden Terrace. Cindy recalls her brother saying he had grown up and wanted his own place. She promised she would discuss the possibility with his case manager at the Community Care Access Centre. Dave stayed on a respite basis twice more at Garden Terrace, along with his 41-year-old brother, Randy, who also has Down syndrome. “Both times Dave was more and more convinced” Garden Terrace was where he wanted to live, she recalls.

“When we became their legal guardians, we wanted to be able to honour the choices that they make. If he changed his mind, he didn’t have to move, he had a home with us.”

Cindy and husband, Paul, arranged to put Dave on a waiting list for the long-term care home. At the time, his health began declining again and he required additional surgeries. He moved from hospital into Garden Terrace as a resident March 31.

While Dave was certain about his decision, Cindy says there was an adjustment period at home. “I miss him like crazy,” she says. “I certainly had more trouble adjusting to it than Dave.”

The hardest part is when she invites her brother home for a visit and he declines the invitation until “next time.” Cindy suspects her brother is afraid of losing his room if he leaves. “His sense of Garden Terrace is he has his own apartment,” says Cindy.

Cindy says aside from the independence Dave experiences, he also feels comfortable in his new environment. She says Dave is aware of his disability and living at Garden Terrace where people have a variety of abilities and disabilities, “I think in a way Dave feels much more relaxed. Some of this needs are the same as some of the other people.”

Cindy says her brother also enjoys the attention and affection he receives from staff and other residents. Dave has a particular connection with Oscar Banos, maintenance manager at Garden Terrace.

Oscar says their friendship developed during Dave’s respite stays at the home. He says he reassured Dave when Dave was frightened about being away from home or by the fire drill going off in the building.

When Dave had to go into hospital for surgery, Oscar had a one-to-one with Dave.

“You’re going to be a new man after that and we’ll go for a coffee and celebrate,” Oscar recalls telling Dave.

Cindy says while her brother was still groggy in recovery, he asked how Oscar was and announced they had a date.

“It makes me feel like we are touching some lives,” says Oscar about Dave’s post-surgery comments. “Just by developing a friendship he feels good about being away from home.”

Dave’s doctor told Cindy her brother’s survival is a miracle. “In October 2003…we thought we were losing him. He became totally paralyzed in a short period of time.”

Between October 2003 and February 2005, Dave encountered major obstacles, including two emergency spinal surgeries, a lengthy stay at a rehabilitation hospital where he regained use of his limbs, and three surgeries for hernia repair.

“He needs a ‘why’ to live. He has beat all odds,” says Cindy.

“I think it’s because he has got a will.

“He’ll make it.”