Medicaid Impact: Rhode Islanders share how their funding empowers them
Anthony Silvia, 68, of Little Compton finds joy and independence through the funding he receives, allowing him to engage in his passions and daily activities.
“I can have a good quality of life,” he said. “It has helped me get out into the community doing things I otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to do. It helps me to be as independent as I possibly can.”
A botany enthusiast, he uses some of his funding for a membership at Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts, where he explores his love for plants and nature. He also benefits greatly from equine therapy, which he said helps him regulate emotions, build self-esteem and problem-solving skills, and develop focus, self-esteem and trust in others.
Beyond hobbies, his funding pays for support staff members who help with daily living tasks, meal preparation and transportation to appointments and activities, including swimming at the Middletown YMCA and dips in the river near his home so he can stay healthy. “My support staff are vital to me,” he said.
“Without my funding, I wouldn’t be able to live the life I live. I wouldn’t have a good quality of life and the experiences or opportunities I have,” he said. “Without it, I would not be able to be involved in my community or be as happy as I am.”