Learn to live independently in a group home.
Group homes support mentally retarded persons' life in a community by giving them a family home. All residents act as citizens with a shared responsibility to keep the house in order. Support staff provide a framework within which residents can use their limited abilities to learn and to choose behaviors for work and daily living.
Independent Living
A policy that guides group home management nowadays is that each mentally retarded person has the same right as any other citizen to live an independent life, choosing his own daily activities and long-term objectives. Staff members do not give instruction or guidance when the resident can make the decision for himself.
Quality of Life
The home staff helps the resident develop a healthy participation in community life. An overarching policy directs the staff to always respect residents' rights as they help the residents achieve good social relations, in the home and in the larger community, and initiate successful endeavors. Until the resident grows to independence, group home living keeps the resident healthy and content.
Home Living Supports Community Life
The life in the group home teaches each resident the skills needed to participate fully in the community. To fairly carry out the procedure, staff first assesses the individual's needs so a staff member can make a plan that helps the resident develop the living skills needed to achieve the life she desires. Steady support ensures that each resident acts effectively to achieve goals and participates in ordinary home activities, like others do in a family home.
Work
Residents develop vocational skills that make an independent life financially possible. The staff consistently engages the resident in a planned course for learning skills that will prepare him for paid employment. In the group home, residents gain full control over their personal finances.
Handling Challenging Behavior
When behavior places the resident at risk for injury, staff members give support that returns the resident to a healthy, composed state. Staff members take an active role to ensure that residents conduct themselves safely. When challenging behaviors occur, the staff informs the resident's family and brings relatives into decision-making.
Tags: group home, each resident, family home, helps resident, helps resident develop, home residents, independent life