Residential Care Facilities for the Mentally Challenged
Intermediate Care Facilities
Individualized Residential Alternative

Linden House, Beny J. Primm Residence and Ferndale House

The Urban Resource Institute operates two Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs) and one Individualized Residential Alternative for mentally retarded and developmentally disabled (MR/DD) adults. Fourteen (14) consumers reside at Linden House and eleven (11) consumers reside at the Beny J. Primm Residence. Established in 1990, these ICFs provide housing and comprehensive services for consumers in a supervised community residential setting. As of January 2005, 8 adults reside at the Ferndale House. Each site is certified by the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) and is staffed with professionals and para-professionals 24 hours per day, seven days a week. For this reason, ICFs and IRAs give many persons with MR/DD the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of a normalized, integrated community living experience, while receiving the support they need. URI's goal is to assist each consumer to achieve as much independence and self-sufficiency in their daily lives as possible.

A complete array of services is provided to meet each consumer's daily living needs. Because the ICFs residences are fully integrated in their respective communities, consumers have access to additional resources such as recreational facilities and activities, vocational training and support, and services offered by local community organizations. Further, formal linkages have been established for the provision of acute and ongoing medical and health care treatment, as needed.

The following services are available:

Round-the-Clock Staff Support and Supervision

Specially trained employees are assigned to each site 24 hours a day. Additional employees are assigned to the morning and evening shifts when consumers require the highest level of assistance. Staff who provide direct services to consumers are trained and certified in medication administration, first aid, CPR, as well as other specialized areas. Professional clinicians and support staff complete the staffing. They include nurses, psychologist, social worker, speech therapist, recreational therapist, dietician, client coordinator, as well as the Program Director, Program Managers, Assistant Program Managers, Medicaid Service Coordinator and a Program Supervisor. Support staff include a Housekeeper, Maintenance Workers and Secretary. Direct Care Counselors are primarily responsible for direct supervision of the consumers. Appropriate consumer-staff ratios are maintained to ensure that each consumer receives the proper level of attention and care that he/she needs.

Residential Setting and Accommodations

Adequate living space and furnishings are provided to each consumer. Sleeping accommodations include either a single or double bedroom. Common living areas include a recreation room/lounge area, dining room, living room, and bathrooms. To ensure that all nutritional needs and special dietary restrictions are met, a licensed dietician plans all consumer meals, which are then prepared by ICF staff.

Individual Program Planning by Interdisciplinary Team

Each consumer's case is reviewed by a team of professionals representing various disciplines to ensure adequate attention is paid to each consumer's individual strengths, needs, abilities and preferences. Goals and objectives are developed accordingly. Quality assurance in the delivery of services is achieved through onsite monitoring and monthly meetings of the Incident Review and Human Rights Committees.

Medication Administration

ICF employees are trained and certified to administer various medications to consumers under the direct supervision of a licensed health care professional. Further, a local pharmacy, under a formal agreement with URI, provides assistance with medication administration as well as pharmaceutical supplies.

Recreation

Recreational activities are scheduled year-round, including evening and week-end social functions, day trips to special events, recreational events and attractions, summer sleepaway camp, and overnight and out-of-town trips.

Vocational/Day Treatment Services

All consumers residing at the residences participate in either a vocational training, day habilitation or day treatment program on a daily basis between Monday and Friday. Transportation is provided for all consumers participating in training or day treatment.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

• A developmental disability
• Aged 18 years or older
• Medicaid eligibility
• Documented need for ICF or IRA level of care

WHAT ARE INTERMEDIATE CARE FACILITIES (ICFs)?
Intermediate Care Facilities are group homes specifically designed and tailored for persons with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities. Because these group homes are located in various residential communities throughout New York State, they provide a home-like, rather than an institutional setting. Staffing is provided at these group homes 24 hours a day, 365 days per year in order to ensure that the ICF consumers who live there receive adequate support and assistance.

WHAT ARE INDIVIDUALIZED RESIDENTIAL ALTERNATIVE (IRAs)?
IRAs are also group homes that are designed and tailored for persons diagnosed with MR and/or DD. Fewer persons, however, are housed in the IRAs, which allows greater opportunities to facilitate indivdual consumer development.

ICFs and IRAs offer consumers the opportunity to live independently and participate meaningfully in daily life activities. All consumers attend regularly scheduled vocational or day treatment programs, participate in daily household chores, engage in various recreational and social activities, and, to the extent possible, are trained in various self-care skills. To instill a sense of familial continuity, relatives of consumers are encouraged to remain actively involved in the consumers' daily lives and to maintain regular contact with their loved ones.

Program Goals

1. To provide the highest level of care to consumers within the least restrictive environment.
2. To provide consumers with essential skills and training in all areas of daily living.
3. To maintain quality controls for the effective evaluation of service provision.
4. To ensure that each consumer has the opportunity to participate in maintaining their residence, in workshops, day treatment, and in recreational, social and community activities.