Sangomas Residential Services is helping people with developmental or other disabilities
By Patricia Nugent
After helping persons with disabilities and economic disadvantages for decades, Michelle Lastovka and Rhonda Reid-Hogan joined forces last year so they could expand their reach and advocate for better care.
As co-owners of Sangomas Residential Services, their caring, nurturing demeanor is infused in everything they do.
“I have been a caregiver my entire career because I know I can be that one person who can change somebody’s life,” says Rhonda, who has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and an associate’s degree in business management. “By forming our own company, we will be able to help even more people.”
Armed with a master’s degree in psychology, Michelle has years of experience in residential direct care, starting as a caregiver and moving up through management. She came up with the company name, which means healer in Native American, as well as among the Zulu people of South Africa—perfectly describing what the company does.
Offering in-home care for those with physical, cognitive and behavioral disabilities, Sangomas Residential Services serves a wide range of adults with different diagnoses, from someone with a traumatic brain injury following a car accident to someone with a compulsive obsessive disorder.
“We help clients with anything they do at home and offer around-the-clock care,” says Michelle. “From pharmacy deliveries and medication administration to attending medical appointments and assistance with daily living skills, our highly trained staff helps them with daily tasks. We can help clients make a healthy living list and take them to the grocery store, as well as assist with home cleaning.”
This fall, the company also will start offering vocational training as part of its new Sangomas Closet retail store. “The goal of the vocational training center is to help with job coaching and career development so individuals can gain employment and live their best life,” says Michelle. “In addition to direct in-home care and vocational training, we also advocate for client rights and guardianship.”
“From your heart to our hands, we become like family,” adds Rhonda. “At times, when a family can’t care for someone and severs ties with their care, we have to be their family and pick up where the biological family left off.”
If you know someone who could benefit from these services, you can refer them to the support administrators at the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities or Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Sangomas Residential Services and Sangomas Closet are located at 9255 Broadview Road in Broadview Heights. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 216-736-7117, or visit Sangomascloset.com.