One of the most rewarding human experiences is the joy of helping others. The reward extends beyond good feelings when the help provided is life-altering for the recipients.
Second-year students at Colorado Northwestern Community College’s dental hygiene clinic visited Horizon’s Craig office and residential homes in October to provide education, care and socialization to staff and residents. This trip was the second opportunity the program has had to visit with the people Horizons serves and supports. The clinic’s first trip was in February 2022.
Five CNCC students — Soraya Rogers, Liz Chisholm, Jazmin Retana, Makayla Kehmeier and Sade Shake — had the opportunity to serve, helping staff learn how to assist residents with better oral health care. The students shared their testimonies of the experience:
“Seeing the residents in the long-term care facility really tugged on my heart strings. It was difficult to hear that some are on a waitlist for care and they are in desperate need of restorative work, but can’t find a dentist to commit. I hope that in the future, we can work towards having a clinic day at the CNCC campus in Craig, which would be beneficial to the community and a great experience for the students.”
“While it was difficult to see that these people have lived this way their entire lives, it was honestly so rewarding just going there to educate and give out a toothbrush.”
“The Craig visit was a great experience to participate in. I felt very good talking about oral hygiene to the staff to better help their patients. It was good knowing that we were teaching the providers some new information, this made me feel accomplished that we were doing something to not only better their patients home care, but also theirs.”
CNCC Dental Hygiene Program Director Tiffany Douglas shared the reason behind this trip and highlighted its higher purpose. Some of the residents have dental needs that extend beyond the capacity of the hygienists. Restorative work requires a dentist with hospital privileges and the willingness to go to the hospital where patients can have anesthesia and safely receive the dental care they need. Currently, no dentist is available to dedicate time to the needs of Horizons residents in Craig and Steamboat Springs. Two primary obstacles the organization has faced are the length of the trip from Steamboat to Craig or Rangely. All involved remain hopeful that this need will be fulfilled in time.
“It’s heartbreaking that you can’t help them on your own,” said Douglas. The dental hygiene program has tentative plans to visit the Craig facility again in the spring of 2023 and is hopeful that future plans can be arranged to serve the Steamboat Springs Horizons residents.
The stated purpose of Horizons of Northwest Colorado is to “enhance the lives of those we help by empowering them to achieve rewarding lives full of new possibilities.” Horizons uses a person-centered approach to supporting those with developmental delays and cognitive disabilities learn to overcome obstacles, develop skill sets, and accomplish goals toward autonomous living in the least restrictive environment. Their range of services extends from birth to adulthood and includes whole families. These services offer support in the individual home, day programs, recreational activities, and residential services. The organization was founded in 1975 as a grassroots community alternative to institutionalized care. In the beginning, they could only help a handful of people. Since then, through meaningful connections, collaborations, and positive energy, the organization has received the ability to be a Medicaid provider and an established, reputable nonprofit.
While Horizons meets many of the needs of the people they serve, obstacles are not overcome without collaboration and the community pulling together in their respective areas of strength. As one of the participating students stated, “These people deserve nothing less than the best.”
By KATIE KING | Special to The Herald Times
