By Erin Snelgrove, Yakima Herald-Republic, Wash.
Jul. 19–When not working or attending school, John Mahaney cares for his 24-year-old son. He bathes Mark and feeds him, clothes him and diapers him.
The responsibility can be daunting, but a new program offered by Provident Horizon Group would give Mahaney the break he craves.
“When two people are together for quite a long time, you need separation,” said Mahaney, whose son has cerebral palsy and a seizure disorder. “Mark is full care. … It’s quite demanding.”
In September, Provident Horizon Group of Yakima is launching a new day program specializing in health and welfare services. It’s the first of its kind in Washington created specifically to help adults with developmental disabilities.
Called Creative Health Options, its purpose is to help people increase their quality of life and become more fully integrated into the community. Enrollees will gain access to everything from skilled nursing services and case management to occupational, physical and mental health therapy.
“This is thrilling,” said Sherie Leadon, executive director for Provident Horizon. “To go from concept to implementation in a year and a half is incredible.”
Established nearly four decades ago, Provident Horizon is a nonprofit group that strives to create employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities. By doing so, Leadon said, it gives this segment of the community the chance to showcase their distinctive talents, rather than live “invisible, alone and misunderstood.”
The organization has become adept at fulfilling the local employment need over the years. Now it’s concentrating on health.
“Twenty to 25 percent of the time, our folks placed on a job lose that job because of a health-related concern,” said Tom Gaulke, chief operations officer for Provident Horizon. “By maintaining their health, we can help maintain their independence.”
Last February, Gaulke received a $40,000 grant from the Yakima Valley Community Foundation, which is funding the equipment, training and other start-up costs for the health program. Ongoing services will be funded by Medicaid.
The adult day health program will be housed in a converted warehouse at Provident Horizon’s headquarters at 1510 S. 36th Ave. On weekdays, participants will spend four hours exercising, socializing with their peers, and engaging in arts and crafts projects. They’ll also have access to nurses, social workers and other medical professionals.
Leadon’s objective is to identify the specific needs of each individual and give them the support to maintain or restore their health. This may involve anything from teaching them how to take medications to performing physical therapy exercises on their own. She’s already hired a nurse to direct the program.
The program is limited to 43 participants, who will be accepted based on referrals from their case managers. If the demand is great, Gaulke and Leadon said, they’ll seek additional financing to expand their facilities.
There are 21 adult day health providers in the state, which serve the elderly and the chronically ill. Eleven of these also serve adults with special needs. Yakima’s program will be the first in Washington to exclusively serve this population.
Sara Myers, executive director of the Washington Adult Day Services Association, said the need for these programs is great. Much of this can be attributed to the closure of state-run institutions and to advancements in health care, which helps these individuals live longer.
“The developmentally disabled community is probably the fastest-growing community of users of adult day health in the state. It’s true in just about every county,” she said.
In the Yakima Valley alone, Gaulke estimates there are 125 people who would benefit from Provident Horizon’s new program. And there are already people lining up to take part, he said.
Gaulke and Leadon’s long-term goal is to create a centralized place where adults with disabilities can receive comprehensive and easily accessible health, educational and social services. The center would replicate what’s offered at Children’s Village, a Yakima facility that provides treatment for children with special physical and developmental needs and sup-ports their families.
Creating such a facility would require business partnerships and a massive capital campaign, Gaulke said, adding that accomplishing the goal will likely take 10 years.
In the meantime, Creative Health Options is a first step.
Mahaney’s son, Mark, already takes part in Provident Horizon’s on-site vocational program. Through it, he performs such tasks as putting washers into screws for atrium window kits. If he’s accepted into the health care program, occupational therapists would have time to work with Mark, training him to perform additional tasks.
Anything that can be done to improve Mark’s quality of life has Mahaney’s approval.
“He has definitely changed my life,” Mahaney said. “Mark has taught me that regardless of how anyone is, they should be loved. He has taught me patience and has been my inspiration to carry on my education so I can help others.”
–Erin Snelgrove can be reached at 577-7684 or [email protected].
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