Success Stories

When you walk into the Senior TLC PACE program in Charlotte, you are greeted by Richard, whose wide smile is matched only by the bold name tag pinned to his chest that reads AMBASSADOR. Known affectionately by both participants and staff as the “Mayor of TLC,” Richard dresses the part. He welcomes everyone through the doors with warmth, guidance, and an open invitation to the Bible study he leads every Wednesday at PACE.

Today, Richard is a visible leader and source of encouragement in the Senior TLC community - but his journey to this place of stability, purpose, and belonging was long and difficult.

Richard was born in Charlotte and graduated from West Charlotte High School in 1981. From an early age, he experienced significant health challenges that followed him into adulthood. Over time, his health declined, and he endured repeated hospitalizations. In 2012, Richard was no longer able to work and transitioned to disability and Medicare.

His life changed dramatically in 2018 and again in 2020, when severe medical complications led to hospitalization, an induced coma, sepsis, COVID, and ultimately the amputation of his leg. When Richard woke up after weeks in the hospital- confused, alone, and missing a limb - he recalls thinking, “I am in hell.” Doctors had told his family they had done all they could. Richard did not know if he was going to live.

Richard was discharged from the hospital to a skilled nursing facility outside of his community during the COVID pandemic. With no visitors and no contact with family or friends, the isolation was especially devastating for a man who had pastored churches for more than 30 years. His time in the nursing facility was marked by quarantine, uncertainty, and profound loss. During this period, Richard lost his home, his marriage, and his connection to his church. At one point, he remembers thinking, “I’m going to die here. I saw no future.”

Everything changed when someone at the nursing facility connected Richard with NC Money Follows the Person (MFP). Through MFP, Richard was able to transition out of institutional care and begin rebuilding his life in the community. When Donna, Richard’s MFP Transition Coordinator, called and asked, “Mr. Johnson, are you ready to move?” Richard could hardly believe it. In 2023, when he moved into his apartment and put the key in the door for the first time, he told himself, “I’m back home. This is mine.” Through the support of MFP and transition funding, Richard was able to get food in the pantry, furniture, and other household needs to have everything ready to go when he moved into his apartment.

Through MFP, Richard found far more than housing—he found a sense of belonging. His transition from facility to home marked the beginning of his journey with the Senior TLC PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program. Senior TLC helps Richard coordinate his healthcare, manage medications, reduce anxiety, and restore a sense of purpose. His stress level, once overwhelming, dropped to zero, he says, and TLC quickly became his family. Richard often shares how reassuring it is to know that even something small - “even if my thumb hurts” - can be quickly addressed by staff who know him and care about his well‑being. In addition to the programs, meals, transportation, and community he receives at the TLC facility, Richard also receives personal care services and other supportive care in his home, allowing him to increase his safety and independence.

Brittney Kearney, Director of Enrollment & Community Outreach at Senior TLC, describes Richard as an integral part of the community. She notes that he has fully integrated into the program and plays an important role in supporting peers, particularly those who are new, uncertain, or transitioning into care. Whether greeting participants on their first day, encouraging them to join activities, or leading weekly Bible study, Richard helps others feel welcome, seen, and less alone. He can encourage others because of his experience and the support he feels, “An amputation is life‑changing - but you don’t go through it alone here.”

Reflecting on his journey, Richard says simply, “This place has saved my life.”

He believes Senior TLC represents what healthcare should be - personal, compassionate, and adaptable to each individual’s needs. Richard has a powerful message for others who may be in situations similar to his own and wondering whether Money Follows the Person can truly help them reclaim their lives:

“Your situation does not depict who you really are.”

Through the support of NC Money Follows the Person and Senior TLC, Richard’s story is one of resilience, dignity, and the life-changing impact of person-centered, community-based care.