Staff members in Dungarvin’s Ohio’s Shared Living Services work alongside providers to offer training on how to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in the providers’ own homes. Jeff R., of Tipp City, Ohio, learned of the Medicaid-supported program in 2020, and was thrilled to find out that family members can participate as well. Jeff supports his son Chris, 39, who lives with autism.
Jeff, 68, has been Chris’ primary caregiver all of his life. He is now retired and able to support Chris full time. But for many years, after Chris finished with school and began attending day programs, Jeff needed help from his father to care for Chris while he was at work.
“My dad would stay here and watch him, and he did a great job. He’s gone now, unfortunately, and I’ve made a total commitment to Chris for the rest of my life. It’s just me and him,” shared Jeff, adding that he enjoys being his son’s full-time support person.
“I get to help him through his daily activities, and I just feel like if he was in an institution, he wouldn’t get the kind of one-on-one care that I can provide for him.”
Over the years, Jeff and Chris have developed a daily routine, including exercise, doing chores, having time to relax and watch TV and, occasionally, doing something fun out in the community. The two often go bowling or to dinner with friends, and to baseball games and music concerts.
“Every morning, we go down to the park and play about an hour and a half of disc golf, so that gets him out walking,” Jeff said. “Then, we stop at the post office and Chris gets out and puts the mail in the mailbox; he really likes doing that.”
Chris also attends a day program where he receives job training and learns other life skills. “They really like him, and he likes going there. He just goes right in and doesn’t even look back at me, which reassures me that he’s OK,” Jeff said.
To become a Dungarvin Shared Living provider, Jeff had to complete the organization’s training to learn all of the safety measures and best practices of being a support professional. He also learned about Dungarvin’s person-centered approach and its mission of “respecting and responding to the choices of people in need of supports.”
He enjoyed the classes and said he uses some of the knowledge with Chris today. “For example, I learned how to teach my son to eat slowly so he won’t choke because he has a tendency to really wolf down his food. So, I am constantly on him about that: ‘Chew your food, don’t rush it, there’s no hurry,’” Jeff said.
Jeff is an exceptional Shared Living provider for Chris, said Sarah Lazirko, Dungarvin Ohio Lead Program Director. “Through his consistent care and dedication, Chris has shown remarkable growth and increased independence over time,” she said. “Jeff actively creates opportunities for Chris to experience new things in the community, which truly reflects what Shared Living is about.”
In turn, Jeff highly recommends Dungarvin’s Shared Living Services to other parents who have children with I/DD. “I am just very grateful that Dungarvin came into our lives to give me this opportunity to be with my son as long as I can and give him a good quality of life, because he’s very happy. All of the people at Dungarvin have just been so wonderful.”
If you are interested in becoming a Dungarvin Ohio Shared Living Services provider, or if you are interested in Shared Living Services for a loved one, please visit https://www.Dungarvin.com.