I remember when I was 19 years old, I commented to a friend “the story of my life could be contained in a pamphlet.” What I didn’t realize then is that one day I’d be sharing those chapters through an authentic lifestyle blog.
Fast forward more than 30 years, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. College. Marriage. Child-rearing. Volunteer work. Divorce. Marriage. Volunteer work. College. Part-time job. Full-time job. Self-employed. Two states. Five counties. Eight towns.
My beautiful adult daughter lives with my husband and me. She was born with an “unnamed” chromosome abnormality and requires care around the clock. You’ll read more about her here. Much more. She’s the catalyst that got me to where I am now, the teacher who shapes my perspectives, and the bringer of sunshine into our household. Through Sincerely Teresa, I share stories of caregiving, family, and Appalachia. It’s my way of creating an authentic lifestyle blog that’s honest and real, not polished perfection.
So, if you’re interested in tagging along on our journey of caregiving and cooking and gardening and writing and reading and pets and travel and…life….we welcome you. Feel free to reach out—let me know where you’re from and how you landed here. I love meeting new folks!
Sincerely,
Teresa
-
Waivers Pt. 6: Behind the Scenes
Taking the Face Off the Clock This is a behind-the-scenes look at consumer-directed waiver services in the Commonwealth of Virginia based on my personal understanding and lived experience—not legal or policy advice. I want to be clear from the beginning that this isn’t a manual, textbook, or official policy guide. It’s simply my perspective as
-
Waivers Pt. 5: When Real Life Doesn’t Fit the System
Let me first say this… Waivers are a good thing. They allow people to stay in their homes, receive care in their communities, and live with a level of independence that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. If you think you or your loved one qualifies, you should absolutely apply. AND, you also deserve to know what comes with it.
-
Waivers Pt. 4: When EVV Meets Real Life
Now that you understand how EVV is supposed to work, the next question is harder to ignore. What happens when real life doesn’t fit neatly into that system? Because it doesn’t. And when it doesn’t—someone ends up paying for it. Let’s Start With What’s Happening Right Now Right now, live-in caregivers don’t have to use the Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) app to clock in