Residential Supports

Finally, a provider of Residential Services that you can feel at home with.

Meaningful Residential Services

It was not a stretch for MDS to venture into Residential Services. After establishing a very successful Day Service Program (in which participants actually work and improve skills!), it seemed natural that MDS would replicate this with children and adults in their own living environment. Also, MDS has worked with individuals with very challenging behavioral and psychiatric difficulties for years. It makes sense, then, that MDS would be strongly motivated to assist individuals at home.

THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL RESIDENTIAL SERVICES IS "MEANINGFUL".

Unfortunately, for years, MEANINGFUL for many individuals has meant watching "trash TV" with residential staff. Maybe a more accurate statement would be individuals watching residential staffs watch "trash TV." The staff of MDS doesn't see any MEANING in this way of assisting individuals! We have found that many consumers, guardians, and families still do not operate on their own preferences and choices. MDS collectively finds this unacceptable. We have still observed through our other services that consumers' needs are at times secondary to provider's convenience. The following are examples of "backwards" priorities - see if you have observed these yourself:

1. Individual cannot attend an activity – staff do not have gas money.
2. Individual must go to another unknown individual's home because of staff wishing to visit each other.
3. Staff departing early.
4. Staff no-showing.
5. Going to staff's church so that the staff can attend the church of their choice.
6. No report of progress provided to stakeholders.
7. If reports are done, they are not meaningful nor do skills seem to be demonstrated.
8. Individual is bored or engaging in activities for the convenience of someone else.
9. Individual goes to staff members home for staff convenience.
10. No documentation.
11. Frequent turnover.
12. Poor communication with others.

Those providing residential and habilitation services cannot really provide consumer centered, strengths-based services and treat consumers in the manner described above.

With Meaningful Day Services, we provide habilitation services with the same values and principles that have characterized our services for the past 15 years: Respect, True Choice, Empathy, Inclusion/Normalization, and Advocacy- even when it isn't popular.

Contact our main office at (317) 858-8630 for more information.