More families needed on P.E.I. to care for adults with intellectual disabilities
'I just knew I had a lot to offer to help people'
For Karen Poley, opening up her home to three adults with intellectual disabilities has been a way to stay home with her own children, earn an income and offer support and companionship.
The Associate Family Program is similar to foster parenting — except instead of children, it's adults with intellectual disabilities in need of a loving home, and the arrangement isn't temporary, it's indefinite.
There's probably someone for everyone, because we have such a wide variety of people looking for homes.— Eleanor Ferguson
"It's given me fulfillment that I've been able to give three people a chance at living in a community and not be isolated from being part of everyday life," said Poley.
'Looking for families'
Across P.E.I., there are wait lists for people seeking an associate family — in many cases people whose aging parents are no longer able to care for them, says Eleanor Ferguson, manager of the Community Supports Program with the non-profit Queen's County Residential Services.
While families and clients who join the program tend to remain in it for decades, she said, there's always a need for more homes as the success of the program hinges on matching up clients interests and needs with the right family.
"The problem is we don't have a large variety to choose from," said Ferguson. "As soon as we process a family, we can usually fill that home fairly quickly."
"In every county they are looking for families," she said. "If you're living in O'Leary or Souris, if you're interested in participating in the program then contact your local agency in that area and they'd be thrilled."
'Someone for everyone'
Compensation for families in the program has two components. A basic room-and-board rate provides $500 to $800. A second portion is based on an assessment done through the province's Disability Support Program, which can add $100 to more than $500 a month, depending on a client's needs.
To qualify as an associate family, candidates are screened. That includes a criminal record check, a home visit and an interview with every family member who lives in the home.
Ferguson hopes more Islanders, even working famillies, will consider becoming a part of the program. She points out clients needs can vary, and many are fairly independent.
"I think for families out there, there's probably someone for everyone, because we have such a wide variety of people looking for homes and so I think every family probably has a place for someone if they were interested."
'Feeling the same as anybody else'
The same three women have lived with Poley for more than 27 years.
Poley takes care of all their personal needs, from laundry to assistance with bathing. She prepares meals, takes them on excursions and more.
"I just knew I had a lot to offer to help people that needed help," said Poley. "To become citizens in the community and become accepted, to be part of programs and to fulfill being adults and feeling the same as anybody else."
Urgent need in Kings County
Nancy Anderson, Executive Director with Inclusions East in Montague, says due to a recent expansion of residential services and funding in that area, her group would like to get the Associate Family Program started in Kings County.
"Results across the province have been favourable in how people are supported in family environments and it's an option we'd like to include at inclusions east," said Anderson.
She said in the past, this kind of arrangement has occurred in that part of the province, but was contracted through the province. In some cases, individuals started in the foster family program and the family chose to have the individual remain with the family as they entered adulthood.
"We certainly feel for Kings County that associate families would be a valuable asset," said Anderson. "We have about 12-15 individuals right now who could flourish in an associate family."
Anderson hopes interested families will reach out as soon as possible to help get the program started. She said matching families with suitable clients — making sure clients can feel like they are really part of the family — is vital to the program's success, and to achieve that they need as many family options as possible.