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It’s Time to Come It’s Time to Come HomeHomeChoosing Where and With Whom to Live—SDS and Supported Living
By Deanna Yost for “InControl Wisconsin Conference” October 13, 2009TRY Companies, [email protected]
PresentationPresentationIntroductionToby’s yellow house storyThe inevitable questionsNew considerationsBasicsLessons learnedA few stories from Up North-videoQ & A and what stuck?
Supported Living: what it is, Supported Living: what it is, is notis notA home of one’s own—not
agency owned or controlledA respectable home—not
unclean, or unsafeA real place to live—not a test to
see if the person can “make it”Flexible and personalized—not
driven by procedures and requirements
The simplicity of itThe simplicity of itI decide where and with whom I
want to liveI make decisions regarding my
services and supportsI decide how I spend my day
How we can complicate itHow we can complicate itPlacing people instead of creating
home and supports around the person’s preferences and needs
Locating slots or beds Delivering services instead of
designing servicesJustifying less supports than needed
based on “choice” rather than adjusting supports based on current needs
Toby’s Yellow House Story—Toby’s Yellow House Story—and his family’sand his family’sCo-Evolution—Hybrid of SDS
Cooperation or allying with an agency
The agency is the employer but the person and family “Have say.”
A PictureA Picture
Person and Family Role:In charge of house partnering with New Horizons North in supervision of staff
Agency Role:In charge of staff, partnering with family in supervision of house
What evolves?What evolves?
Division of duties based on strengths of each party, for example:Person/parents—day to day supervision and training
Person/parents--Management & Supervision of staff
Agency—general trainingAgency—billing and payroll
Mutual respect and trust◦Open dialogue ◦Differences of opinions don’t deter
the outcomes◦Successes are celebrated to gather
energy from each other
Needed ElementsNeeded Elements
What about regulation?What about regulation?The person, their families, the
agency and staff together work towards the best practices of what is typically regulated now in group homes, such as:◦Activities during the day—what to do
and even whether to do them◦Needed personal and medical cares ◦Ethics◦What staff need and should learn to
do their jobs well*
What about….?What about….?Liability, insurance, licensing, risk,
inappropriate behaviors, charting and paperwork, returning behaviors, bad neighbors, transportation, zoning….
Always ask, “Which issues do people have without disabilities who live in the community?” Deal with those as you would for anyone.
Consider new issuesConsider new issuesRelationships, power and control
balance, matching with paid staff, inclusion in the community, family roles and negotiations, staff autonomy, staff isolation, values…
Supported living is new territory, but as for anyone, respectful relationships and strong networks are key. (Handout.)
Yes, you gain weight!Yes, you gain weight!
Everybody Eats When They Come to My House
Have a banana, Hannah, Try the salami, Tommy, Give with the gravy, Davy, Everybody eats when they come to my house!
Try a tomato, Plato, Here's cacciatore, Dorie, Taste the baloney, Tony, Everybody eats when they come to my house! Cab Calloway, 1947
How it works—the basicsHow it works—the basics1) Vision. People are different—homes
are different.2) Funding. (Handout.) Social Security
payments are typically used for rent and living expenses. Long-term care funding is used for staff support.
3) Help. A roommate may help care costs but there may be negotiations when visions merge. Staff are needed.
4) Place. There is a search for a place and a community.
5) Learning. There is a lot to learn.
Lessons learned and Lessons learned and learninglearningTraining never ends, never…and it
is time consumingThere is no perfect schedule—
schedules are starting points for negotiations
Staff need authority—if you set core values and train on that you can let go easier. Supported living is not for control freaks.
Always ask, “what’s going well?” before you ask about concerns
A few storiesA few stories
VIDEO: Northern Wisconsin examples of supported living prior to family care
Any questions?Any questions?
