Group Homes operate 24 hours/day, 365 days/year. Each group home resident participates in the daily routine of the home to the extent that they are able. Residents participate in meal planning and preparation, laundry, general housekeeping, planning recreational activities, and shopping. Residents are supported in planning traditional celebrations, (i.e. Birthdays, Christmas, Chanukah, Easter, Super Bowl Sunday, etc…). Residents are encouraged to maintain and make lasting relationships with relatives, friends, neighbors and people within the community including the bank teller, cashier at the grocery store, health club participants, and people with developmental disabilities who do not attend LifeLinks programs. During the weekdays residents go to work or day programs and typically only stay home at the Group Home if they are not well. Staff assists residents to live in and be a part of the community around them. Staff is expected to participate in the LifeLinks Direct Support Specialist Apprenticeship program supported by the United States Department of Labor. All Group Home Staff are required to earn First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Medication Administration certification. Homes that support people with diagnosis’s like epilepsy, autism, or other diagnosis also require that staff is trained to support people with unique medical and psychiatric needs. Staff ensures residents receive routine medical care at their own physicians, dentist, and other medical specialists in the community. Staff is trained to dispense medications in the homes as prescribed by a physician. A Registered Nurse monitors all medical care. Two group homes are designed to provide care for individuals who are medically fragile. Certified Nurses Aids and Licensed Practical Nurses oversee the care of the individuals in these homes. Certified Nursing Assistants are trained on how to care for G-Tubes, J-Tubes, catheters, whirlpool therapy, sensory activities, and much more. The Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) funds group homes for adults with developmental disabilities. LifeLinks charges residents room and board fees, which are calculated at 75% of the resident’s monthly income. These fees help offset the cost of food and utilities. Families and individuals interested in a group home placement must be referred by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation. For more information on how you or someone you know can find out if they are eligible for group home placement, call the Greater Lowell Department of Mental Retardation at: 978.322.4300. The Director of Program Services, Carol Midey is also available to answer your Group Home questions by calling 978.459.6179 extension 637 or by emailing cmidey@lifelinks.ws .
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