Kuirina Arenas of Lincoln experiences cerebral palsy, seizures, a traumatic brain injury, and paralysis on one side. She lived her with parents until five years ago when her mother was diagnosed with emphysema.
Kuirina moved to a nursing home because her father, Ken, was unable to care for his wife and daughter at the same time. Ken also recognized that he was no longer strong enough to carry his 54-year-old daughter up and down the three steps at the front entrance of their home.
After her mother’s death, Kuirina

talked to her father about returning home and asked if he would be her caregiver again. In February of 2006, Kuirina and Ken talked to the nursing home about their plans for Kuirina to return home. Nursing home staff and Kuirina’s Health and Human Services Coordinator worked together to help the family achieve their goal.
A referral was made to the Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP) for entrance, vehicle, and bathroom modifications. The first step in the assessment process was a visit to

See Arenas, Page 8.