HM and JY

Pieces of Hope has been a phenomenal resource for my clients and our community. Jill has become more than just an instructor to my people, she’s a friend, a valued part of their week, and someone they look forward to spending time with. Through attending weekly sessions at Pieces of Hope with two very different clients, I have noticed similar results including an increase in stability, mobility, fine motor skills, critical thinking skills, and confidence. Jill meets them where they’re at and works with whatever they are able to offer that day, which is huge when working with the special needs community! My client H, a female in her mid fifties, has been able to lessen the frequency of falls as she works to increase stability, making every day life safer and easier to manage. She is also learning skills to help with a healthier lifestyle by exploring ways she can make simple changes and healthier daily choices to improve her body, mind, and overall health. 

My client, J, male in his late forties, has been working on increasing stability while walking to assist with becoming less dependent on his walker and more confident while spending time enjoying community outings. J has become so comfortable with Jill that he often engages in playful banter, and likes to challenge Jill’s plan, which is a huge, and unexpected accomplishment!

Katie Houchens - New Opportunities and Ways

SM

There are few times in life where you meet an individual who truly radiates the word service. As a direct support professional, I can only hope to be an example as strong as Jill. From the time my participant and I entered her facility, Pieces of Hope, a partnership and beyond that, a friendship, began to grow quickly. My participant went from tolerating very short intervals of time focusing on the activities asked of her, to tolerating an entire one hour session with Jill, often staying after just to spend time with her. Tolerance towards activity is only one small aspect of the improvements seen over the last seven months. This participant, who is non-verbal and autistic eagerly articulates Jill and gestures the sign for boxing every time I arrive to pick her up for her weekly session.

This shows an aspect of trust rarely seen with an autism diagnosis and serves to reinforce the connection they have built over this time. In one recent visit, I supported Jill as rain poured into her gym, risking mold and water damage. While assisting her, I observed our participant engaging completely independently in activities without any prompting to do so. This speaks volumes to the skill Jill has working with neurodivergent individuals, and the efforts she makes to connect with every single individual who enters her facility. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue working with Pieces of Hope and to see the continued progress, which I have no doubt will come.

 Brittany Branham - New Opportunities and Ways

“Life is full of uncertainties”, and supporting those with varying abilities keeps things interesting. Our greatest discovery has been the POH movement and memory center. No other environment has been as welcoming, resourceful or enriching. Jill’s unique and crafted approach was exactly what my folks needed to excel and encourage themselves towards their goals of greater independence. Jill and Pieces of Hope consistently deliver and are a humanity anchor for this community.

Antonio Herndon 

Community Access Program Director , New Opportunities and Ways

MAX

Our experience at Pieces of Hope with Jill Steffey has been extremely helpful and positive with her encouraging words and upbeat attitude. Max, my husband, has Parkinson’s disease with some dementia. He has class once a week where Jill is always cheerful and encouraging. Jill knows all too well about Parkinson’s and how it affects the family. She took care of her father who had Parkinson’s. Therefore, she works on the movement and mental aspects of Parkinson’s. Max has done various exercises to help him to live better with his Parkinson’s. She prescribes exercises for movement, walking, breathing and memory. Every single week she has something new for him to do including “homework” to do during the week. Going to Pieces of Hope is an hour well spent. God bless Pieces of Hope and Jill Steffey. 

Carolyn Carpenter - wife of Max 

PAUL

I think I started seeing Jill 4+ years ago when she was still with Rock Steady Boxing. Not to be overdramatic but I credit Jill and her work at Pieces of Hope with saving my life. 4+ years ago my doctor's thought I had Alzheimer's. It turns out that I might not have Alzheimer's.    But 4+ years ago I was very sick. I was experiencing memory loss, nothing was being retained in my long term memory, I was having periods of confusion and slowed thinking. I was having rapid heart rate, psychosis, couldn't remember how to get to Walmart and was having periods of extreme rage. Unable to  work or manage most aspects of my life I was preparing for what I thought was my next step- death.

Due to the non stop efforts of my wife to find appropriate medical treatment for me, the work of some very good doctors and due to meeting Jill I have come through some of this. I'm not out of the dark woods yet but I am no longer in the black hole.

Jill had had 20+ years of working with a special Ed program. This experience has given her invaluable knowledge about brain functioning, learning styles and neurological differences in individuals.

She is experienced in working with various ages of people. She has specific training and knowledge in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, special needs, nutrition physiology, and geriatric issues among other things.

She is a caring and compassionate person. When I started seeing her I was not able to pay and she worked with me anyway. I know that she has very reasonable rates for her services and offers a variety of scholarships for her services.

Jill is very involved in her community through her church and her connections and involvement with a variety of programs and agencies in the area that makes her an excellent source of info and referral.

One of the things I have benefited most from with Jill is how she has individualized her work with me. We have focused on accessing memory, improving working and short term memory, recognizing and decreasing confusion. If her interventions did not seem to work with me she would try something else and always focused on my pre-existing strengths.

If you are in south central Kentucky and if you or anyone you know is dealing with memory, movement issues, Parkinson's, Dementia, special needs, learning problems or other issues I CANNOT RECOMMEND Jill and Pieces of Hope ENOUGH!!!!!  Paul

KS

I started taking KS to Pieces of Hope in February 2024. When KS first started attending, KS could barely finish 1 - 2 activities due to complaining, using curse words, not listening, talking back, and just flat out refusing to participate. Jill worked each week observing KS’s behaviors and put her ideas to the test. Fast forward until now. KS is participating for the full hour and finishing 8 - 10 activities. Jill has worked wonders for KS> Jill came up with a plan and it worked. Jill is always looking at what’s best for her clients and ways to help expand the possibilities of them. KS’s socialization skills have tremendously improved with myself and Jill. KS can have a conversation without the whining like she did before. Jill has helped KS realize she can do anything she puts her mind to. KS shows improvement as well with functioning independently without having to be redirected multiple times. I would highly recommend Jill at Pieces of Hope to anyone. 

Brandy with New Opportunities and Ways. 

BRENDA

Jill is one of the most kind and giving person that I’ve ever met. She is very intelligent and since I’ve been going to her, she’s helped me with my balance and my walking. I broke my shoulder and she has helped me with some exercises that help me with the pain and with getting my mobility back in my shoulder. 

Brenda from the On The Move class