Spa day treat for Fransee Lane AFH residents

DSP Helen and the residents from Fransee Lane at Nature’s Healing Day Spa in Germantown.

You may know Helen De Pasquale as a veteran DSP at Balance’s Adult Family Homes, but that is only one of her jobs!

Helen is also a licensed Massage Therapist and owns Nature’s Healing Day Spa in Germantown with her daughter Maria.

After nearly seven years working with Balance’s residents Helen says that the most important parts of her job are to love each resident, to help them become more independent, and to do everything wholeheartedly.

Helen says it brings her immense joy to see the residents smiling and feeling special and she especially loves it when she can see that she has helped them to grow as people, whether the growth is in the form of new skills or new experiences.

So, as a Christmas gift, Helen gave the residents of Fransee Lane (Claire, KC, and Joslin) a very special new experience at her Day Spa.

Claire wrote all about the experience for you to read.

Spa Day by Claire D.

The four of us left the home at 11:15 am. We had an appointment at noon to go to the spa. The spa day was free! Special compliments to Helen, our night staff, who is also a masseuse. We all got a special letter for Christmas saying you are invited to come to my spa for 30 minutes body and 30 minutes facial. 

When we arrived at Nature’s Healing, we were told to go into the locker room to get changed into a gentle but heavy-feeling white robe. Naturally, I took a picture of the 3 of us. That silly Joslin always makes the perfect smile for my cell phone. KC was looking forward to this day. Nothing could go wrong!

Next, after all our clothes and bags were in the lockers, we went to the calming room as each of us waited to go into the massage quarters one by one. In the calming room there were fake indoor plants everywhere, a fake fire that sent off warmth, Himalayan salts the size of a rock, and to top it off, the waterfall in the corner. The sound of the water was tranquil. 

Helen and her daughter gave us tea and it was to die for! It had a crown imprinted in it making me feel royal. In fact, I felt like a movie star with the whole shebang!

Joslin was first leaving KC, Kelli (our staff for the day), and I chatting. KC and Kelli were talking about how to improve Balance’s Adult Day Program. Me, still feeling like a movie star, whispered, “I need to text my agent” and “I worked with Tom Hanks.” I blurted out to them, “That was one of my lines! Attentive.” I even said to the two something about how the makeup artist took his time. 

We brought our lunches along and just as I was finished, Joslin came out.

“I got to taste chocolate mousse facial and it was on my teeth.” said Joslin.”

I was next. In the massage room, I learned a few things more about the body. Helen told me why it hurt. 

When I came out I was on cloud 9! I couldn’t stop smiling! My endorphins was through the roof! My face was glowing! When I went back into the calm room with the Fransee gals, I looked up on Google if endorphins happens in drunk people. YES! I was acting and feeling like I was drunk! Saying things like I can hear the ocean and close up using my cell phone for the video. That I love everything and random giggles. I also felt as if I was ready for a nap. 

KC was last and when she came out from the massage room Kelli wanted a picture of the three of us  with Helen. We went to the locker room to change back into our clothes, said goodbye, and left. Then, I was acting like a cat on catnip in the car. Eyes wide open! On the edge of my seat. I don’t know what came over me! But that’s a different story. 😏