Supported Living Services have resulted in marked success for children and adults challenged by disabilities. Individualized assistance is at the core of a person-centered framework promoting independence, educated choices, and self-worth.
Individuals who live on their own or with a housemate can be assisted by SLS staff with any part of daily life that needs support. Staff are trained to help as much as needed without getting in the way of independence. Some individuals receive 24-hour care, while others need only a few hours a week—it all depends on the plan the individual’s team that ties to the person’s needs and their funding. SLS staff only use a “cookie cutter approach” for baking in the kitchen, not for planning service schedules. Each person has goals developed with their team to identify areas where staff can help them build their skills.
Some activities staff may assist with include:
- Household cleaning
- Personal Hygiene
- Administering Medications
- Attending medical appointments
- Meal preparation
- Grocery and other shopping
- Recreational activities with friends both at home and in the community
- Money management
- Transportation as needed to participate in above activities
Individuals who live with family / caregivers can also work with staff from the SLS program. Respite services allow individuals with disabilities and their caregivers a chance to pursue activities independently from one another. Staff are trained on each individual’s needs, so caregivers can be confident their loved ones are in good hands while they are busy with other things. Respite time may be used at home or in the community. Individuals who live with family may also receive services with residential goals as described above to help prepare them for moving out on their own some day.
SLS services are flexible and adapt as an individual’s needs change. You may have seen SLS staff assisting individuals in the community, and if we were doing our job well, you didn’t notice the individual had staff—you just saw an individual with disabilities pursuing the same daily activities as anyone else, with support as needed from a companion.
I have a lot of fun in yoga class.
– Consumer
This service allows our daughter to enjoy the many activities in our local town.
– Parent
It’s hard to believe how much Jane has improved since she entered Medicaid Waiver.
– Guardian
With the volume of services provided within the five county area, CDC’s Supported Living Services group has substantial depth so that when one staff cannot make a shift at the 11th hour that somebody else can fill in for them. CDC utilizes software to schedule and track staff services and there is 24 hour on-call supports for every consumer.
