Our son was a resident at Southwinds and was injured several times due to poor safety practices and poor judgement by the staff. Our son required several surgeries for broken bones and cuts.
It is my opinion that agency is poorly run especially where safety is concerned.
This is a wonderful organization that gives new meaning to life for its residents. It gives them dignity and self respect. It has done wonders for my friend Barbie who is a resident and her team is SMILE. Smile is exactly what Barbie does now. She has a social life that is full and better than mine. These people who take care of the residents are confident, well trained and most of all they give them all loving care which you do not find in other facilities.
Scary....that is how a family feels in letting their loved one move on to a different place in their life. My sister was raised at home in a loving family and we didn't consider how life would play a part in where she would end up. When our Mom died and my sister needed more than we could give her, I was so blessed to have found Southwinds. My sister was in her fifties when she was moved to a beautiful home in Carnegie with people who loved and cared for her till she passed. She had a full life at this home and I will ever be thankful for all the love and caring she received. At her funeral the staff of Southwinds was there with our family and greived with us...what a wonderful group. They give their clients respect and their is much to be said for that!
My brother, David, has been a resident in one of Southwinds group homes since 1986. David moved in to his home when he was 24 years old. I was 21 and just transferred to a University. I had difficulties adjusting to being away from home and David and I spoke often. I will never forget his words of encouragement, "Barbie, if I can do it so can you!" AMEN TO THAT! David has THRIVED in his group home. He was given the opportunity of independence, pride and dignity. He met many new friends in the staff and client base. As the years have past, David has endured some major health restrictions. Southwinds and their extraordinary staff have met his needs with so much love and support. I, and my family, are so grateful to Southwinds, Inc. They have given David quality of life and my family a great peace of mind! They are priceless!
I personally am impressed with Southwinds . The staff is great, my friend Barbie Ryan is engaged and happy. I have seen several nursing homes and group homes in my life and you can't compare them to southwinds.
Southwinds was a blessing for my family, my sister was taken care of by our mother who passed away few years ago. Our family members worked which meant we need to find a place for our sister who can be taken care of with an organization that would take care of her with love, support and a healthy environment. Southwinds has offered all of that and more. Linda Foster
I just want you to know I believe that Southwinds is a wonderful organization and I will always do what I can to support it. I cannot always support with money but I can always support with helping with any campaigns to raise money and always being there for moral support.
This organization not only provides the best care and home life for residents but treats them with respect and gives them quality life. It is my utmost wish that Southwinds always operates and people support it. I will always spread the word about this wonderful organization.
I also would like to say that it not only has put a big smile on Barbie’s face (Barb Ryan who is a resident of Southwinds) but also on her sister Debbie Vogel’s face. I know that Debbie was very concerned with the future of Barbie and Southwinds has given her peace of mind knowing that Barbie is receiving such excellent care and that she is happy.
God Bless Southwinds and everyone who works there and all of the sweet and loving residents who are benefiting from their great care.
Karen
I have had the opportunity to learn and contribute to Southwinds through my brother who has been an active volunteer to the organization for many years. I have been to their annual walk-a-thon several times and have had the pleasure of meeting the employees and individuals they serve. Everyone is so kind and generous, and I cant help to think that it takes special, loving people to do their jobs. It is to say the least, a humbling experience. I look forward to helping the organization in the future and wish them nothing but success.
Over the years, it has been a pleasure serving as a board member for Southwinds. The exceptional staff work around-the-clock in order to assist in providing loving, caring environments to all of the individuals they serve. In addition, my entire family has been blessed and fortunate to meet many of these individuals at serveral events, and I take pride in knowing that they have positively impacted the lives of my children, as well as many, many other people in the community. Sometimes I feel they help us more than we have helped them. Southwinds is truly a wonderful organization.
I have been an employee working for Southwinds for over 6 years. I have personally witnessed Southwinds as being dedicated and committed to achieving the best quality of care for all their individuals. I have worked with Frank Montesanti the entire time that I have been employed at Southwinds, I look forward to seeing his smile and he is quite a charming character. Nan Kurpely, Resident Advisor, Southwinds.
Southwinds is a wonderful organization to have served as a volunteer, donor and former board member. Their tremendous direct care and administrative staff work hard to make sure the individuals they serve are well cared for in their community based homes. They help their clients live happy, meaningful lives. They manage resources very well, especially in a difficult funding environment. They are fiscally responsible, always investing donors money directly into equipment and programs that benefit the individuals they serve. It has been a true pleasure to be involved with Southwinds.
Southwinds is a perfect model of what well run nonprofit organizations can achieve. I have worked with, participated in events with, and volunteered for Southwinds on numerous occasions over the past 5 years. Each time I work with this group, I see shining examples of their commitment to helping the people they serve. I've seen the generous nature of board members and friends contributing to the organization, and I've seen the care in which staff members provide to their clients. I am grateful for what I have seen and learned in my time at Southwinds, and excited about continuing and expanding our relationship in the future.
Southwinds is a 'Place to Call Home' for 50 individuals who otherewise may have been institutionalized and would not have the quality of life they experience now. They provide safe, comfortable homes an enalbes each resident to personalize their own individual room . Each home is staffed 24/7 with caring individuals who do an excellant job of taking care of the individual residents' needs, appointments, dailiy activities and also see that the house is clean and comfortable. I am proud to serve on the board but more so I am very grateful for the care my sister is given as one of Southwindsresidents. Thank you all!
For the past 28 years Southwinds, Inc. has been providing residential home care services and developmental training for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As it has evolved, they have recognized the needs of an aging population and continue to enhance, expand and improve facilities. Southwinds current programs to build and modify tailored home-like specialized residences for challenged men and women, while remaining integrated into the community is a credit to their fore site. They currently manage fourteen such facilities and will expand to the extent that funding becomes available. The staff is dedicated to the elder care programs and conduct numerous fund raising activities each year to support existing programs and new facilities. In my experience with nonprofit's Southwinds ranks as one of the best. Jerry Smith, Upper St. Clair, PA
Southwinds is blessed with great staff and management all focused on serving 50 tremendous residents. It is an honor to assist Southwinds' Executive Director, Stacey Kabula and the rest of the dedicated Team in fulfilling the Agency's mission.
Southwinds, Inc. is a very unique Organization which allows its Residents to enjoy "normal living" together with a handful of other Residents with similar limitations in a supervised and safe environment. The houses are like yours and mine and are located next to yours and mine which is the beauty of this Organization. This living atmosphere hand in hand with other key components of Southwinds Mission provides for the Residents (in some cases) to enjoy activities and interests such as attending sporting events, going to Church, crafts and other hobbies, or even going to the local store. From what I have witnessed over the years, however, is this probably would not be possible for the Residents without the team of Management and Staff at Southwinds. Much of the success of the Organization can undoubtedly be attributed to its dedicated Management and Staff, and the energy, passion and care they display daily for the Residents and each ones well being.
Southwinds, Inc. is a tremendous asset to the Pittsburgh region. They do a wonderful job helping adults with developmental challenges develop life skills. The individuals at Southwinds and their families consider Southwinds their home – they are there on a very long-term basis. This is reflected in the fact that during Southwinds’ 25+ year history, the average age of the individuals they care for has increased from 36 to 60. Staff are professional, dedicated and truly caring. The fact that the Executive Director has been with Southwinds since 1984 also speaks volumes about the compassion prevalent throughout the organization.
I want to recognize the dedicated employees of Southwinds. They provide love and care day in and day out to developmentally disabled adults. These are special people that have the gift of patience and kindness. Not just anyone has the qualities necessary to be part of Southwinds. They are a rare breed of person that provides selfless service in sometimes what is a difficult job.
Southwinds is a wonderful organization! They are one big family! I got involved with the organization when my wife started working their five years ago. I look forward to helping out at their special events because it gives me a chance to talk all of the wonderful adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities that they serve!! It is very rewarding experience for me!
Southwinds has been providing homes to adults with mental disabilities for over 27 years. Because of our strong board and excellent management, we're well positioned to continue serving well into the future.
Southwinds provides a unique service helping developmentally challenged adults live is a homelike environment receiving the care and respect we would wish for one of our own family menbers.
Southwinds is an amazing organization that changes the lives of developmentally challenged adults who would not otherwise be able to enjoy the many services that Southwinds offers to enrich their lives.
My husband’s Aunt began having seizures at approximately 18 months old; this was the probable cause of the mental retardation. She was institutionalized at age 17 (in 1964) and spent nearly 30 years at Western Center State Facility before it was closed. Thankfully, other state agencies were encouraged to visit Western Center to interview the residents to see if any qualified for their program assistance. Aunt Kathy was one of those lucky residents. She went to live in one of Southwinds' group homes February 2, 1994. Aunt Kathy has lived with the same three housemates for many years and her caregivers are amazing women. They truly have become Aunt Kathy’s family. Aunt Kathy goes five days a week to a retirement day program. She makes Crafts to enhance her fine motor skills and participates in group activity sessions. Her program is run through Mercy Behavioral Health. As a family member of a current resident in Southwinds' care, I am happy to recommend Southwinds, Inc. Written with kind regards, Elizabeth M. Duhan
The feeling I get in all my contacts with Southwinds staff is that they truly care for their clients. It is wonderful that such a place exists.
