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Benefits of Independent Living, by Audrey Coulombe, counsellor
Sometimes it is difficult for family members
to even imagine their loved one living independently. After
all the years either living in the family home or being
forced to move out of apartments for one reason or another,
it can seem like an insurmountable task for someone living
with a chronic mental illness to be able to live on their
own. Well, there’s hope!
Research indicates that, for people who
are adequately supported and have the functional capacity,
transitioning to living in a community setting is an
important step in attaining recovery. The standards for
treatment of severe mental illness are undergoing change;
rather than settling for a remission of visible symptoms,
health-care providers and consumers are now looking at
returning to the previous functional level (the ability to
do the things that one was able to do before becoming ill)
as the ultimate goal of treatment. For many people with
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric
disabilities, living in the community can be a part of
returning to a healthy level of functioning (Schizoprenia.com).
Families and their loved ones should be
aware of the different community mental health resources and
more specifically, the ones that are in the West Island to
assist with independent living for people with mental
illness. With the proper encouragement and support from the
family, and help from the appropriate resources, it can be
possible.
There are several options: for the people
suffering from the most chronic and persistent mental health
problems, the family can look at several group home options
where there is constant care; such as, Omega Group Home
(Pierrefonds, and also a new building to open up in
Cloverdale in January 2009) or Forward House (NDG) -
either of which could be considered as a stepping stone to
more independent living in the future - as the maximum stay
is approximately two years. There is also the Douglas
Hospital services (Verdun), or L’Abri en Ville
(Montreal) – both of which offer long-term housing. All of
these housing programs offer 24/7 care for your loved one.
Each requires an interview and evaluation of the client, and
there is more than likely a waiting list. You can always
plan ahead for your loved one by getting them on the waiting
list. That way, during the waiting period you can discuss
concerns, encourage and prepare your loved one. For each of
the above mentioned places, your loved one would have to
make the initial phone call themselves. Costs differ at each
place.
There are also living arrangements
for people suffering from an illness, but who are higher
functioning, and do not want or need constant supervision.
These living arrangements usually offer a semi-supervised
setting where a mental health worker/counsellor, and/or
volunteer, will visit the person in their home once a week
(or more/less depending on individual need) to make sure the
person is doing well. Some of these places include: West
Island Citizen Advocacy (Church Apartment Program -
CARE), where individuals either share an apartment with
one or two other people suffering from an illness, or can
apply to live alone in a 3 ½ in either of two Pierrefonds
apartment buildings (Farley House and Herron House). There
is a waiting list, but it is definitely worth signing up if
your loved one wants their own apartment where the rent is
25% of their monthly earnings (even if they are on
welfare!).
If your loved one feels that they
can live on their own with limited intervention, there is
also Community Perspective (Ste. Geneviève), which
offers a program, Home Run, which aids individuals
with mental health problems to find low-cost living
arrangements. They can also provide supportive home visits
(for help with daily living skills) from a community worker
for your loved one if needed. Diogène, in Montreal,
also offers similar services for apartment hunting (plus
help with judicial problems and recovery of identity
papers).
These are several good options to
assist you to help your loved one. They do not have to do it
all on their own. If your loved one feels they are ready to
go out on their own, please take advantage of these
services. A little independence and autonomy go a long way
toward mental
HEALTH!
Telephone numbers:
Omega Group
Home
514-683-1647
Forward
House
514-484-3763
Douglas Hospital In-Patient
Services 514-761-6131
L’Abri en
Ville
514-932-2199
West Island Citizen
Advocacy
514-694-5850
Perspective
Communautaire
514-696-0972
Diogène
514-874-1214
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