After breathing problems landed him in a nursing home in 2023, Floyd Cummings was enthusiastic about regaining his independence when approached by the Comprehensive Class Member Transition Program (CCMTP) at Association House. Designed to relocate people who've been wrongfully placed in restrictive care environments, CCMTP gave Floyd a chance at a new chapter.
Soon after he connected with the House, he relocated to a newly constructed supportive living community in Bridgeport, excited to have his own space to read, relax, and see more of the city. However, after completing a long-term prison sentence just a few years prior, he was disconnected from his family and unsure how to begin reaching out.
When Association House decided to share some inspiring stories from the program, Floyd's unique journey was an obvious contender. In his thirties, while serving time at the Stateville Correctional Center, he led an impressive career as a professional boxer, facing off against heavyweight champs like Joe Frazier and Frank Bruno. Floyd agreed to a video interview for the Association House TikTok, where his stories and advice were warmly received.
Then, something unexpected happened: Floyd's nephew stumbled across the TikTok video and recognized his uncle. He commented right away and reached out to Association House hoping to reconnect. Soon enough, Floyd and his family were reunited-- able to catch up and bring Floyd back into their lives. With help from his case workers at Association House, he was able to take a trip to Indianapolis for a proper family visit.
"I'm not too good of a talker, but we just laid around the house, ate a lot, got fat," Floyd says with a smile. "I can't explain the feeling, but it was there."
Back home in Chicago, Association House was able to help Floyd achieve another major milestone: a cataracts surgery that had kept Floyd from some of his favorite hobbies. His vision had declined significantly during his nursing home stay, but he was finally able to get a corrective procedure scheduled once he'd secured his new home.
Now at the end of his recovery time, he's back to reading the Dean Koontz books he loves. And, with a voice recorder gifted by Association House, he's spending some time retelling the stories of his life in hopes that one day they might be transformed into an autobiography. With his eyesight improved, he says he's mostly inclined to stay home and relax.
"They're trying to get me to go to a ball game, but I'm not going to no ball game... when I was young, maybe, but we don't have front row seats! We gotta go way up in the bleachers? I ain't like that," Floyd says with a laugh. "It's VIP or nothing!"
Through social media, decades of isolation and disconnection were no longer an obstacle. Now, a new chapter of Floyd's life can truly begin.
--
Read more about Association House's Community Transitions program and its impact at https://www.associationhouse.org/case-management.
Comments