Before the world shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Josh Langevin, 24, would go to the Trudeau Center’s Patterson building, which hosts an in-person adult day program. The center provides services for adults and children with developmental and intellectual disabilities, like Josh, who is on the autism spectrum. 

But three weeks ago, his direct service professional, Nicole Kristant, began working with Josh directly from his home after his months-long hiatus from visiting the center, which has closed many of its facilities due to the pandemic.

“He had regressed a lot since he hadn’t been at Trudeau for months,” Josh’s mother, Deb Langevin said.

“Him sitting home for six months was terrible. He was used to going places, and he couldn’t do all of that. His routine was definitely messed up. But she really got him going. She’s really patient with him.”

From Monday through Friday, Kristant helps him get out of bed and perform basic hygiene, chores like dishes and taking out the trash, activities like reading or art and going out to the library or the park for a walk. 

“What we tried to do in this new program working with Josh is to take that work we used to do at the day program and mingle it with the home base activities,” Kristant said “We’re taking the exercise, the math work, reading, things like that and we’re combining that with household chores and daily activities so we’re doing a bit of both.”

Kristant explained that Josh and the other adults there would typically do activities together, such as book clubs, visits to the animal shelter and community service in addition to individualized care. Due to the pandemic, these group activities have been limited. However, Kristant still takes Josh to Goddard Park for walks and visits to the library for reading.

Initially, Kristant was uncertain about taking Josh out due to the pandemic, but she found that Josh needed the outside exposure.

“I was nervous at first when we were first going out, but each of the businesses we have been to, we don’t interact with people too often especially outside, and there just isn’t as many people out there,” Kristant said. “It hasn’t been as bad as I thought.”

When asked what her favorite part of her work is, Kristant did not hesitate to cite her clients. Before the pandemic, she worked with multiple people at the center, but currently, she only works with Josh. 

“Josh is a very charismatic young man,” Kristant said. “He is funny, he is very outgoing; he has fantastic manners. He comes from a very loving family. They are such a great family to be around. And I like working with my clients. They keep me going every day, I enjoy being a part of their life, and feeling like it was a good day, with them being productive and I try to take care of every single one of them like my own family member.”

Kristant worked in retail before working in direct care. She has been with the Trudeau Center for a year and a half after a friend referred her for a position there.

“I don’t think enough people get into this line of work and realize how rewarding it is at the end of the day to make a difference in someone’s life,” Kristant explained. “There’s other professions that feel like that, teachers and nurses, but most of these [clients], they might have a family where they sit in front of the TV all day and they don’t get very productive. I think going out with them every single day, it makes me feel good about what I do for a living.”

Josh’s mother said that she and her son are happy with the new form of care, and can’t thank Kristant and the Trudeau Center enough.

“Agencies are hurting right now because they can’t do center based activities,” Langevin said. “But these young adults really need a place to go, and I think the in-home services are really meeting their needs. I can’t say enough about that.”