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ELDERLY REMAIN INDEPENDENT THROUGH NURSING HOME TRANSITION PROJECT The Center for Independent Living of Central Pa. pushes for independent living and accessibility for people in their golden years and people with disabilities Living independently is a reality for senior citizens and people with disabilities, because of the Nursing Home Transition Project.   (Camp Hill, PA) - More and more elderly Americans say they would prefer to remain in their own homes in their golden years than move into nursing homes. Living independently is a reality for senior citizens and people with disabilities, because of the Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania (CILCP) and the statewide Nursing Home Transition Project. "The Nursing Home Transition Project enables our consumers to explore their options for living an independent life," CILCP Executive Director Theotis Braddy said. "CILCP will work closely with the consumer to secure independent living services and housing necessary for a successful transition into the community." The goal of the Nursing Home Transition Project is to assist people who want to move from a nursing home to a private residence. CILCP's experts fully understand the many barriers that the elderly and disabled community face during this transition. CILCP's trained staff will work closely with consumers looking to move from nursing homes into the community while providing the appropriate support services. "Our independent living specialists are trained to meet the needs of the elderly and disabled community. We assist in the integration of consumers back into the community to live independent lives," Shalana N. Saxton, CILCP's Nursing Home Transition Coordinator, said. CILCP, a nonprofit organization established to advance the rights of people with disabilities through the elimination and prevention of barriers, is committed to helping the elderly and people with disabilities live independently. According to Saxton, finding housing is a dilemma for the Nursing Home Transition Project. Because most of CILCP's consumers are on fixed incomes and the waiting lists for public housing are so long, there are drastic delays in the transitioning process until housing is found. Another barrier is the accessibility of housing for the elderly and people with disabilities. It has been difficult finding landlords and property managers who were renting housing that was accessible. CILCP addresses both sides of this issue. Saxton sees connecting the Nursing Home Transition Coordinator with property managers as a "win-win" situation. There are various community programs that the Nursing Home Transition Project has access to in order to provide funding for property modifications to accommodate the elderly and people with disabilities. These modifications could potentially increase the property value at absolutely no cost to the property owner. It will benefit the current tenants as well as serve as a free investment for future residents. Property managers and landlords willing to make accessibility modifications to their properties could see an expanded clientele-base from the program because it is evident that they are welcoming to the elderly and disabled community. "Our goal is to create a working relationship with property managers and landlords," she said. "Providing the elderly and people with disabilities with housing would give the property managers a sense of security and an expanded line of clientele, as well as the possible increase of their property value when modifications are installed at no cost to them." Along with the desire to live independently, many elderly are looking for private residences due to a decreasing number of beds and nurses available at nursing homes. Earlier this year, Dauphin County officials made the decision to remove 96 of the 404 beds from the county-owned nursing home. Since the 1990s nearly 30 counties in Pennsylvania have removed beds from nursing homes. Saxton explains that this type of integration will help eliminate fears and stereotypes of both the elderly and disabled community while providing a sense of security for the landlords and property owners. She says CILCP consumers are eager to live independently. "They look forward to having private bedrooms, paying their own bills, enjoying lemonade on their own front porch and watching the children play," Saxton said. "They want the simple things that others take for granted." She also says that by welcoming the elderly and people with disabilities they will attract other renters from that community. "As more and more senior citizens and people with disabilities opt to live independently, and the baby boomers enter into nursing homes, the need for accessible housing will increase. We will need renters to welcome in this rapidly growing population," Saxton said. The Center for Independent Living has firmly established a trustworthy name and working relationship with people with disabilities. Officials are not forcing residents to leave the nursing homes; instead they are reducing the number of beds through attrition. Still, the downsizing is reducing the options for the elderly, so even those who do not oppose nursing homes may opt for a private home. After transitioning from a nursing home, the consumers can benefit from CILCP's Attendant Care Project. CILCP recently became an official Waiver provider, which expanded CILCP's existing Attendant Care Program. As a Waiver provider, CILCP can provide consumers with comprehensive attendant care services and ensure that they are receiving the assistance they need to remain independent. "In the past, we could only provide our customers with an overview of available Waiver programs along with guidance, support and direction regarding who to contact," Theotis Braddy, executive director of CILCP said. "As a Waiver provider, we can provide a more comprehensive service package to our customers." CILCP's Attendant Care Program provides a variety of Waiver options including the Aging, Attendant Care, Independence and OBRA Waivers. The Aging Waiver provides long term care services to qualified older Pennsylvanians living in their homes and communities. Under the Aging Waver, the CILCP offers personal care services, attendant care and home support. Included in the services offered are assisting a person to get in and out of a bed, wheelchair and/or motor vehicle; assisting a person to perform routine bodily functions such as health maintenance activities, bathing and personal hygiene, dressing and grooming; and eating, including meal preparation and cleanup. There are also ancillary services which include homemaker-type services such as shopping, laundry, cleaning and seasonal chores; companion-type services such as assistance with transportation, letter writing, reading mail and escort; assistance with managing finances, planning activities and making decisions. "With the Nursing Home Transition Project and Attendant Care Program, we can help make independent living and community involvement a reality for consumers who may have thought otherwise," Braddy said. "The elderly population, as well as people with disabilities, should know that they have options." The Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania is a nonprofit, nonresidential organization established for and by people with disabilities and serves Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Mifflin, and Juniata counties. CILCP's vision is to empower people with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society. For more information on the CILCP visit www.cilcp.org or contact Nathan Pigott at 717-975-2148 or via email at npigott@hersheyphilbin.com. Back to the Newsroom