Benefits Of Group Homes For Developmentally Disabled Adults

By Edna Booker


There are a significant number of persons in the general population living with developmental disability. Illnesses commonly associated with these disabilities include cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and autism among others. A personal with mental disability finds it difficult to live comfortably with the general population because of the special needs that they need. Cases of stigmatisation are common. There are many group homes for developmentally disabled adults that may help with these cases.

Perhaps the biggest challenge that faced by persons living with developmental abnormalities is that they usually have difficulties taking care of themselves. As a result, they heavily depend on parents or other members of their families to take care of such as personal grooming, feeding and using the toilet. The degree of dependence is variable and depends on the type of disability and the severity.

How long can one stay in a group home? There are no hard and fast rules regarding the duration of stay in the facilities. This stay is determined by the severity of limitation and how fast they gain survival skills. There should be no hurry to have them come back home until they are fit.

The success of the program is determined by, among many other factors, a healthy relationship within the family. Sending a person to a group home should not be a way of getting rid of them. It is important to organise regular visits as a show of solidarity. Additionally, these visits are an opportunity to assess any gains that have been made. Identifying an accessible group home becomes very important in this regard.

When choosing a group home, there are a number of things to look out for. Make sure that your choice of home is fully equipped with enough facilities. Some patients may have a coexisting medical condition that has to be treated at the facility. You will be well advised to compare several of them before settling on your choice. More importantly, the home must have a licence to operate that is issued by the Department of Human Services.

The residential homes are required by law to have day activity centres that engage the occupants and help with mental training. They should also have opportunities for vocational job trainings or job placement services. This is aimed at achieving the main objective of integrating the individual into the community once they live the home. Ensure that the home that you chose has these services.

Most persons living with developmental disability are just as talented as everyone else. The only challenge is that they do not have an opportunity to discover these talents. Enrolling into the homes provides this opportunity and opens up a world of opportunities to the disabled individuals. Some even secure normal employment and can work alongside their colleagues albeit with some challenges.

There is no doubt that a person with disability requires a lot of attention. This is because they have very little in survival skill. By taking them to a group home, you are not getting rid of them. It is simply an opportunity to train them so that they can take care of themselves. The fact that they live together with other people dealing with the same challenges, is advantageous.




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