An adult residential facility, sometimes formerly referred to as a “board and care” home, typically refers to a home in a residential neighborhood where up to six individuals with similar needs live with support from professional staff whose training is geared toward their levels of need.
Both the family home and adult residential facilities continue to be popular choices. The overwhelming majority of adults our agency serves still live in the family home. Living with parents can have advantages, especially when a young person isn’t sure about what they want to do after graduating from high school. However, it’s important for families to know that help is available, and a variety of excellent services and supports exist to enable adults with developmental disabilities to live safely and independently in the community. The severity of a person’s disabilities should never be a barrier, since there are currently a broad range of residential options where any individual’s needs can be met.
What are Independent Living and Supported Living?
With independent living and supported living, the adult with disabilities lives in their own home, which may be an apartment, condo or single-family home, with assistance from professionals to the extent needed. A service provider, or group of service providers work one-on-one with the person with disabilities to help them perform, or learn to perform important daily life activities, such as grocery shopping, house cleaning, and meal preparation. Whether the situation is considered “independent” or “supported” is based on the level of the individual’s life skills and independence.
What other resources are available for Independent and Supported Living?
When the person with disabilities also has physical challenges they may also qualify for personal assistance. In California, where we operate, this program is called In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), and it funds personal assistance for things like using the bathroom, bathing, and getting dressed. Other U.S. states have similar programs which, like IHSS, are aimed at helping those with low incomes who have disabilities or seniors to continue living safely in their homes.
Since many adults with developmental disabilities have low incomes and often can’t afford the rent in their area, they also typically qualify for affordable housing and/or federal financial assistance for housing. Many choose to live with roommates, who can make their housing situation more affordable, while also providing companionship and a greater feeling of safety and security.
Taken together, all of these resources and services make living independently a viable option for growing numbers of individuals with disabilities who have had the benefit of growing up in much more inclusive communities than previous generations.
Advantages of Independent and Supported Living
Living in one’s own home is a personal choice that more and more of those we serve are making with the full support of parents who want to nurture their child’s life skills and independence as they mature. This growing independence is a natural progression for all adults including those with disabilities, and can be important for the person as his or her parents grow older and ultimately pass away.
We find that those we serve who live independently are among our community’s strongest self-advocates. The confidence and self-esteem they gain from the experience empowers them to more effectively express their needs and wants for their life, and often leads to greater engagement and participation in community life.
Where to Get More Information
Your local disability services agency is the best source for referrals to independent and supported living service providers. It is likely they also can assist in identifying related support services. The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (www.nasddds.org) website provides a wealth of information, including contact information and links to each state’s developmental services agency.
For affordable housing and federal housing vouchers, your local housing authority is the best source for detailed information about eligibility and the application process, as well as wait list status, income limits and logistics once your loved one receives a voucher. More information is also available from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (www.hud.gov), where you can also search their list of local public housing agencies.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Arturo Cazares, MPA is Associate Executive Director of Community Services and Jennifer Montanez, MS is Director of Case Management for Regional Center of Orange County (RCOC). RCOC is the private, nonprofit organization contracted by the State of California to coordinate lifelong services and supports for more than 28,000 Orange County, California residents with developmental disabilities and their families. The Regional Center is the first stop for those seeking to obtain local services and supports to help them live safely and with dignity in the community. Developmental disabilities include intellectual disabilities, autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Learn more at www.rcocdd.com
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