Linda M., who works in healthcare, has found herself in the important role of caregiver for both her mom and daughter in recent years. She relocated to Bellevue in 2012 to care for her mom, who was showing early signs of dementia, and she stayed to take care of her for three years. Then her daughter developed a severe health condition, and Linda had to stay home from work to care for her as well. Because of this, she lost about five years of income, so she didn’t have that much money left in savings.
One of the main signs of wear in her home was the floors. The carpet was 40 years old and coming up in places, plus the smell from their service animals emanated throughout the space. Linda didn’t want to relocate because of the community of care she had established in her neighborhood and the health benefits it provided to her daughter. Now 25, her daughter can’t drive because of her condition, and having access to healthcare professionals, shopping, and safe walking spaces in their neighborhood is key to her health.
“I’m 69-years-old, and I hope to stay here. I’ve been here since 2012 and I know a lot of the neighbors, and I go to church nearby,” Linda says.
In looking for a way to replace her home’s flooring that was cost-effective, she found her way to Habitat SKKC via the City of Bellevue’s Home Repair Program. Once Habitat SKKC was brought in, the Repair Team fully replaced the carpet with vinyl plank flooring.
“The carpet was old and worn, with lingering pet damage that went down to the subfloor. Our site staff also hauled a good amount of furniture to get access. I imagine that would have been quite a physical burden for Linda if she had to coordinate on her own,” explains Repair Program Manager Mae Amorin.
Now that the project is complete, Linda and her daughter are enjoying their improved quality of life.
Linda explains of the home improvement, “The work they did was so meticulous and amazing. It’s much easier to keep clean, and we can take pride in keeping it clean. It’s like a whole new life for us.”