Half a dozen patients with acquired brain injuries and their families are benefiting from a support home that opened its doors in Napanee earlier this year.
Scott Finlay has been living in Finlay House since April after more than 30 years living at home and being cared for by his parents.
Scott’s mother Rosemary Finlay used to worry about her son’s future and whether she and her husband Hugh could continue caring for him.
“We’re getting older so there was a lot of heavy lifting and we love Scott but it got to the point where it was just getting too much.”
Scott was a competitive downhill skier until a serious head injury in 1978 left him paralyzed.
His father, Hugh, is credited with being the driving force behind the support home, raising funds for 15 years to open the facility.
“After Scott was hurt I just found out there was so many other people that had head injuries with no place to go,” Hugh said.
Pathways to Independence CEO Lorrie Heffernan says the support home employs 12 full-time workers and a number of part-time employees.
“We’ll help them with their access in their wheelchair, we’ll help them with their meals, we’ll help them with their transportation to get them to places they need to go.”
Finlay House is fully accessible with two kitchens, a private courtyard, relaxation rooms and activity space.
It’s located in a medical complex close to the many services accessed by residents at the Lennox and Addington county hospital.
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