Gillespie Services Homes With Hearts offer developmentally disabled adults a supervised, community-based living option for individuals who do not require constant, intensive medical care but cannot live fully independently. Unlike institutional settings, these homes offer a smaller, more family-like environment that fosters a sense of belonging and promotes residents’ independence, personal growth, and social integration.
Structure and environment
- Settings: Gillespie Services Homes With Hearts are individual houses located in traditional, residential neighborhoods. This community-integrated setting stands in contrast to larger, more isolating institutional facilities.
- Size: These homes house a six residents, creating a more personalized and manageable atmosphere.
- Living arrangements: Residents have their own private bedroom or share one with a roommate, and share common living areas like kitchens, living rooms, and dining rooms, which promotes socialization with peers.
Staffing and supervision
- Availability: Trained Direct Care Personnel are available to provide support and supervision, 24/7.
- Training: Staff members are professionally trained to provide personalized care based on each resident’s specific needs. They have expertise in areas such as developmental disabilities, first aid, CPR, and managing medical needs for some individuals.
- Qualifications: Staff often have prior experience working with people with developmental disabilities or possess relevant educational and technical training.
Services and activities
Gillespie Services Homes With Hearts offer a comprehensive range of services and programs focused on skill-building and community engagement.
- Daily living assistance: Staff helps with essential activities like personal hygiene, meal preparation, housekeeping, and medication management.
- Life skills development: Residents learn and practice skills that help them grow in independence, such as budgeting, grocery shopping, laundry, and time management.
- Social and recreational activities: Gillespie Services Homes With Hearts facilitate a rich social life, both within the residence and in the broader community. This includes field trips, games, craft classes, and community events.
- Community integration: A core goal of Gillespie Services Homes With Hearts is to help residents become active participants in their community. Staff organizes activities like volunteering or job training to foster inclusion.
- Health and wellness: Care includes coordinating with healthcare providers, scheduling doctor’s appointments, and supporting physical and mental well-being.
Person-centered planning
A key philosophy of Gillespie Services Homes With Hearts is the “person-centered approach,” which tailors care to the individual.
- Individualized plans: Staff work with residents, their families, and medical professionals to create personal development plans. These plans identify individual abilities, goals, and interests to help them lead a productive and fulfilling life.
- Empowerment: This approach respects personal choice and encourages residents to make informed decisions about their own lives, fostering self-advocacy and empowerment.