“We have an entire society whose needs are not being met by anyone…not by their families, their community, their state, or their country.” Nasra Mohamad-Salah is referring to what she believes is a significant gap in adult residential care.
To meet this need, in 2019 she founded True Residential Care, an Ann Arbor adult care facility for those with memory problems, dementia, Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injuries, and developmental or cognitive delays.
A different approach
The gap Mohamed-Salah’s facility fills is specifically care grounded in compassion. She believes an individual’s care plan should be specifically tailored to that person.
“It starts with making sure someone is emotionally in a place where they can connect. Medication and food alone are not enough. I can focus on the things they are not getting help with…that’s their mental health,” Mohamad-Salah said.
In a world too often ruled by the almighty dollar, Mohamad-Salah’s empathetic take on health and human service is rather refreshing.
If one of her residents loves books but doesn’t have the funds, she will find free reading material or purchase them out of her own pocket. If someone desperately wants to go visit a loved one, she will secure transportation to take them. If someone has a birthday, she and her whole family will celebrate with them.
This is because not only is her own family including her husband, mom, brother, sister-in-law, and even children involved in the business but she treats her residents just like family too.
“The thing that people love about my business is not only that I work with my family but every person who comes into my life becomes my family,” Mohamad-Salah said.
Kindness matters
Mohamad-Salah is incredibly passionate about the well-being of all vulnerable adults like those she serves.
Too many group homes cut off services once the minimal public funding most residents receive has run out. And too often, these individuals then fall through the cracks, subsisting instead of thriving. They may get fed and be medicated as the state mandates, but that’s about it.
“The core needs of a human are not considered. They need human connection. That bond is irreplaceable,” said Mohamad-Salah.
She is not okay with what she considers inhumane treatment and has taken it upon herself to be their voice.
“Anyone not passionate about someone’s quality of care should not be doing this,” said Mohamad-Salah.
True Days
In fact, every August 21st Mohamad-Salah hosts a True Days event at Ellsworth Park to raise awareness about the needs of individuals like those she cares for and also to secure donations for basic needs items her residents typically can’t afford like clothes, especially winter apparel.
The community outpouring of support has been so vast in the past that they have shared donations with other group homes. Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor has even attended and has proclaimed this date to be True Day every year in Ann Arbor.
So, set a reminder on your calendar now so you don’t miss the 2023 True Days event! Mohamed-Salah will be happy to share with you her vision of how vulnerable adults should be cared for and what needs to be done to make this a reality.
It’s a worthwhile social movement the whole community can get behind because we all have likely experienced a loved one needing help with their day-to-day care and surely would want them to be treated with the utmost compassion and kindness.
22156 E. Eden Court, Ann Arbor