 |
 |
Over the length of the project, we will provide you with real-life examples of individuals who have tried an alternative to a staffed home. The following are three such examples:
Melissa has an incredibly adventurous spirit and has always lived with her toes facing forward. She is good at asking for support and identifying exactly what she needs. When Melissa announced that she was ready to move from the group home in which she had lived for several years, everyone paid attention. She had experienced big changes in her life and had been well-supported by staff within the home. Her family, and others who cared for her, encouraged Melissa to just wait a while.
When she first moved into the home, she lived in a suite by herself with 24-hour staffing support. Over time, she became increasingly independent and confident. However, she also started to feel a little lonely and isolated. She began to reach out to her community and found that she didn’t need as much staff contact as she once had. Still, the thought of having her live anywhere else was almost unimaginable for those who cared about her.
Not for Melissa. For the past two and a half years, Melissa has lived with a wonderful support person. They have been through a lot over the past couple of years, but both agree that their lives have been enriched by the experiences they have shared.
Sharon had an unsuccessful experience moving from her family home to a group home. Lack of compatibility with her roommates and a number of other factors led Sharon to react to her environment in ways that were difficult for everyone involved.
Sharon’s family wanted to try something different. Their dream was that she would live with a roommate just a few blocks from them. It led them to mortgage their family home and put a down payment on a small home just a few blocks away.
After much negotiation and planning, Sharon and a friend moved into the home. Their combined disability benefits allow them to pay rent to the trust which Sharon’s parents set up to own the home. A young woman lives with Sharon and her friend and provides support, under the supervision of the agency that originally operated the group home where Sharon lived. Both women are flourishing and have a rich life they share with their roommate.
When Jim and his dad, John were first approached by their service provider to consider an alternative to the group home where Jim lived, John was skeptical. Even though Jim and his housemates were not that compatible, John was comfortable because the staff understood Jim’s needs. The idea of Jim living with a roommate without a disability seemed fraught with problems.
Then they were told that one of the staff members from the home would like to live with Jim as a care provider. This seemed like the ideal solution, and according to Jim and his dad, has surpassed their widest dreams. John has shifted from skeptic to supporter and lately has been thinking of creating a more permanent housing arrangement to secure their future. He has also become a willing spokesperson for this type of alternative to traditional services. |
 |
| | | |
Change the font and background colours of the site*:
| | | | | |
|
|
|
|
