HOULTON, Maine — Community Living Association is an agency whose mission is to involve community and family in promoting the highest quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities by assisting them to be independent, self-confident and valued members of the community.
Community Living Association has 20 programs for assisted living homes, intermediate care facilities, independent living homes, community supports, shared living services, community case management and supported employment.
Shared living services is an option offered in the state for individuals with intellectual disabilities. It connects people who have disabilities with private families in a long-term living arrangement that promotes their independence and self-worth. Shared living providers are supported by Maine Department of Health and Human Services and are paid for their services through MaineCare. Providers are self-employed independent contractors.
Jen Patoine, shared living coordinator at Community Living Association, ensures appropriate matches by interviewing both consumer and potential SLS providers to find out both parties’ common ground and interests. This is an enrichment opportunity for both adults with disabilities and also for those who have time and skills to share with an adult who is in need of home support.
The shared living program has several benefits — providers offer family-based, long-term, stable support in a home setting. Independent living skills and training are provided to the individual. Each individual has a support team to assist in the person-centered planning process which helps the individual identify and obtain their personal goals. During this process, the individual becomes a part of the provider’s family and community.
Benefits of being a SLS provider are the ability to work from home and be your own boss, training provided by CLA, oversight visits to ensure quality, and the opportunities to help people to become independent, self-confident and valued members of the community.
Most of the consumers who live in a shared living home also go to a day program Monday through Friday. This may give the SLS Provider other opportunities during that time while they continue to earn a decent wage through shared living services.
The first step in becoming a shared living provider is to have a desire to accept an individual into your home. Providers must pass background checks and complete training that is provided by Community Living Association and includes College of Direct Support certification, CPR and first aid courses and a medical administration certification.
Responsibilities include: providing a clean, healthy living environment, assisting the individual in daily care, if needed, transportation to medical appointments and community activities, and helping them to achieve skills. The provider is expected to actively participate as a member of the person’s support and planning team. Additionally, providers need to maintain daily documentation of progress.
Rick Holmes, shared living service provider for almost eight years, said, “Our experience with SLS has been a very positive step for us. It is a job and comes with responsibilities of a job, yet has room for flexibility towards other responsibilities and family. SLS also provides help for a person in need. Since our consumer has moved in, the impact on our life has been positive and rewarding.”
Holmes added, “One of the greater benefits as a provider is the flexible schedule that allows us to be a part of our children’s daily activities. Even though the job offers flexibility it also requires 24/7 responsibility for the consumer. My experience is that as we follow the consumer’s plan and focus on the consumer’s goals and maintain our Provider responsibilities it becomes a very manageable routine.”
When asked how Holmes liked working with Community Living Association he said, “Our experience with CLA is excellent. We feel we have great support and never feel like our input has no merit. I would describe it as a complete team effort.”
Another shared living provider, Deverne Foster, said, “Shared Living is community helping people. We are helping them, they are helping us. It is a win/win situation. I stand by Community Living Association 100 percent. I like their ideas and the people who work there. If I had a need, that is where I would go.”
The shared living model integrates individuals into family setting, work and society. It has proven itself to be successful and cost-effective for the state to provide services for people who have disabilities. Community Living Association continues to offer this support option for individuals and also the opportunity for potential providers. Applications are currently being accepted for shared living providers and Community Living Association welcomes all inquiries on the subject.
For more information about the shared living program contact Jennifer Patoine, SLS Coordinator, at jpatoine@cla-maine.org or call 532-9493.
