KenCrest in Blue Bell is helping people with intellectual disabilities who are at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 safely navigate the coronavirus pandemic, writes Courtenay Harris Bond for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

According to Lauren Tilghman, director of strategic communication for KenCrest, the majority of the organization’s clients have underlying health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. This makes them more vulnerable to the virus and as a result, they are nearly twice as likely to die from the virus as other residents in Pennsylvania that test positive for COVID-19.

Many of the organization’s clients enjoy the independence they have achieved. So having other people perform tasks for them they were previously able to do on their own was hard for many of them, including for 47-year-old Michael Swainson.

“He didn’t want to rely on anybody,” said his program manager, Rachael Miroddi.

But he soon accepted that he had to rely on Miroddi to deliver food and other necessities to his door if he wanted to stay healthy. She also encouraged him to take socially distanced walks in the park and to use the time at home to clean and reorganize his apartment.

Read more about KenCrest at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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