The ladies of Farley House hold a special place in the heart of Manager of Residential Services Tamica Domino. When she first joined Eden, she worked in the residence and became very close with the ladies who lived there.
One day, she was driving Joelle home. As they pulled up to the house, Joelle asked to give Tamica a hug. “She never really shows that kind of affection. It’s rare,” said Tamica. “That was so special to me because it meant that she trusts me, and that’s big to me.”
Joelle has been with Eden for almost 40 years. She joined the Day Program in 1986 and moved into an Eden residence in 1992. The trust she has built between former and current staff members, like Tamica, has enabled Joelle to find comfort and growth at every stage of her Eden journey.
Joelle is a hard worker. She likes to keep her things in order and enjoys doing her laundry and tidying up around the house. She takes pride in what she owns. “She loves her things and tries her best to take care of all the items that she considers special to her,” said Tamica.
She is a girly-girl who loves shopping, jewelry, and coffee. She has strong opinions about which clothes and jewelry items she likes best. “When you ask her something, she will have an opinion about it. You can tell that she has really thought it through,” said Tamica.
Joelle does not often show physical affection, but she displays her love in other ways. She asks about her housemates and staff members. She wants to know where they are, what they are up to, and if they’re okay. A lot of them have become her family. Joelle has spent some holidays with Tamica and her family, where she was right at home.
“She came to my house for Thanksgiving. She sat down and started calling my mom ‘mom.’ She got herself something to drink. It was like she lived there forever,” said Tamica.
For Tamica, Joelle’s comfort is paramount. “I want her to feel comfortable around me. That level of trust and comfort is huge,” she said. “Joelle is a very strong-willed woman. I think her life has not been easy, but I think that she finds ways to, with help from staff, have a fulfilling life.”