Mainstream Living hopes to open its next medically fragile home in the Summer of 2013. Like our other two, this home will serve five young adults with severe and profound disabilities. The new home will be located at 315 Lincoln Street in West Des Moines (view map here).
Without these homes, families are left with few options. In the State of Iowa, a child must exit the children's system when they turn 22. If not for the types of homes that Mainstream Living can offer, families have four options for placement:
1) They can place the individual into a nursing home, which at 22 is not an appropriate place to live.
2) They can place the individual into a State institution, but even this option is not viable as the facilities are not currently accepting referrals.
3). The individual can be placed in an Intermediary Care facility, if a bed is available. The problem with this option is that a bed only becomes available when another individual passes away and that bed may be several hours away from family and friends.
4). The last option for families is to care for their child in their home, however, the divorce rate in this instance is nearly 95%. Because these types of individuals require such intensive care, there is little time left for anyone else, which can lead to a breakdown in the family unit.
This home will be an opportunity for five very special individuals and a solution for five families who may not know what the next step is for their son or daughter. With over 50 people on our current waiting list, each house gives comfort to five families who know that their child is in a safe, loving, and happy environment. And most importantly, a home that is staffed by a nurse each and every hour of the day. It's these homes that bring families together and make them stronger and we need your support in making this a reality.
William Knapp Sr. has generously donated the land for the home and many other businesses, organizations and individuals have pledged their support. Gifts of all sizes are important and appreciated. With your support, we can open the third home of this kind in the State of Iowa and continue to fulfill our mission.
If you or your organization is interested in making a difference in your community by supporting Mainstream Living's project to build homes for the medically fragile, please contact our Director of Development.
