When Vera Campos talks about life, her voice is bright, full of humor, determination, and gratitude. But her path to independence nearly ended three years ago, when a devastating fall left her alone on her apartment floor for a full week before anyone found her.
She survived, barely, and began the long climb back with the help of the team at Immanuel Pathways of Eastern Nebraska PACE®.
That fall could have taken her life; instead, it became a turning point. With comprehensive support from PACE®, including rehabilitation, transportation, in‑home services, day center activities, and a team that never stopped checking in, Vera regained strength, stability, and, most importantly, the confidence to live on her own again.
“If I can do it myself, I want to keep it that way,” she said, a phrase that’s become her signature and her compass.
Vera’s health journey has never been simple. Years before her recovery, she faced mobility challenges, including frequent and dangerous falls that eventually put her in a wheelchair for nearly two years. During that time, she moved from an assisted living community in Omaha into long‑term care to get the higher level of support she needed.
“I don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for PACE®,” she reflected.
Her physician first suggested Immanuel Pathways PACE®, believing Vera needed more than occasional appointments. She needed coordinated, all‑inclusive care and the daily encouragement of a community. After an in‑home visit and time to consider the choice, she enrolled. Looking back, she calls it one of the best decisions of her life.
Ask Vera her favorite activity, and she’ll grin: “Talking.” She’s the first to say, “Good morning!” and the first to welcome new participants: “You’re going to like it here.” That warmth is part of why staff often describe her as a success story, something that makes her glow.
“It feels good,” she said. “They see I’m flourishing. And I am.”
Immanuel Pathways of Eastern Nebraska provides structure for Vera’s week: activities, occasional outings, and plenty of conversation. She loves that participants can choose what works best for them and that their feedback shapes the calendar.
“There’s always something going on,” she said. “They really try to do what people want.”
The most harrowing chapter in Vera’s story began on an ordinary Friday. She returned home from a day of activity, walked into her apartment, and remembers nothing else. She fell and was unable to reach help. For seven days, she lay on the floor, drifting in and out of awareness. A neighbor finally noticed a faint, persistent thumping sound and urged the building manager to check. That insistence saved Vera’s life.
When she was found, Vera was severely dehydrated, bruised, and barely conscious. She spent a week in critical care, a week in intensive care, and two months in rehabilitation. The physical toll was immense, the emotional impact was lasting. Even now, she keeps a night light glowing in her living room.
“It scares me,” she admitted. “The dark reminds me of being on that floor. I don’t ever want to feel that helpless again.”
From the moment her fall was discovered, the Immanuel Pathways PACE® team stayed close, coordinating with the hospital, tracking her progress, and preparing for a safe transition back to her apartment. Vera felt the difference right away. “They never turned their backs on me,” she said. “They didn’t ask what I did wrong. They just wanted to help.”
Rehabilitation and mobility: Therapists worked side by side with Vera to rebuild strength and balance. Each session marked a small but meaningful step, from transfers and short walks to the confidence to move safely through her home. Over time, she moved from heavy assistance to doing as much as possible on her own.
Safe housing and equipment: The PACE® team helped identify an apartment that fit her needs and equipped her home with supportive tools, including a hospital bed and a lift chair. Those adjustments made daily routines safer and helped prevent the kind of setback that could erase months of progress.
“They don’t take over. They ask how they can help,” she said.
Daily purpose and community: Social connection became a powerful part of her recovery. At the PACE® center, where Vera now comes four days a week, she found routine, friendship, and the joy of being known. Bingo is a favorite (on Tuesdays and Fridays), but she also serves on a participant advisory group that suggests program improvements.
“There’s something for everyone,” she said. “People here don’t see who I was; they see who I am now.”
A consistent, compassionate presence: Perhaps most important, Vera never felt alone. Calls, check‑ins, and encouragement from the team reminded her that her goals were possible and that someone always had her back.
“If I had stayed home and felt sorry for myself, I might have gone back to old habits,” she said. “PACE® kept me moving forward.”
With time, work, and steady support, Vera accomplished what once felt out of reach: she moved into her own apartment in Bellevue, Nebraska, where she’s lived independently for more than three years. She cooks, manages her money, and maintains her routines. She doesn’t drive, so she partners with PACE® for transportation and planning. It’s another way she stays safe while protecting her independence.
“I want to do things as long as I can,” she said. “And if I can do it myself, I want to keep it that way.”
Her daughters, granddaughters, and a large circle of siblings remain a meaningful presence in her life, but Vera takes pride in doing what she can for herself first. It’s a balance her PACE® team fully supports.
Vera is determined to use her experience to encourage others who may feel isolated or overwhelmed.
“Staying home 24/7 isn’t good for anyone,” she said. “People need a spark in their life. This place gives people that spark.” She’s even invited family members to come see PACE® in action, hopeful they’ll recognize how life‑changing the right support can be.
Her advocacy is simple but powerful: Call. Ask questions. Come visit. There is a place for you.
When asked what she’d say to the team at Immanuel Pathways, Vera pauses, then smiles. “I don’t know how to repay them,” she said. “But I hope they know how much they’ve done for me.” The truth is, they do. Seeing her thrive, living safely at home, engaged in the center, and proud of what she can do, that’s the heart of PACE®.
Vera’s motto still guides her days: “If I can do it myself, I want to keep it that way.” With PACE® beside her, she can. And for Vera, that means everything. Life on her terms, surrounded by people who believe in her as much as she now believes in herself.