ARC of Martin County prepares for future housing needs

Finding appropriate and affordable housing is challenging for almost all seniors.

Add the unique challenges faced by those with developmental disabilities, and the task becomes almost gargantuan.

When ARC of Martin County was incorporated in 1956, a group of parents was seeking services for their children who had a variety of developmental disabilities.

Some 60 years later, those children and others face the reality of increased life spans and all the concurrent challenges– just like the rest of the population.

Currently, the ARC of Martin County has nine community-based group homes and a tenth in the planning stages. These homes allow people with disabilities to live in affordable housing that has been rehabilitated to meet their physical needs.

These homes are in various single-family neighborhoods throughout Martin County and operate 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Full-time staff is required, as is capital and general maintenancethroughout the year.

People with disabilities lead more fulfilling lives, achieve higher levels of independence and develop into responsible citizens when they receive individualized support plans such as those in group homes.

A major concern and unmet need for many parents and other family members is who will care for their children when they are no longer able to do so? What happens as their children get into their 60s and 70s and develop complex healthcare-related issues such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease?

Because ARC does not have 24-hour nursing care, as adults develop more complex medical issues they must be discharged from a program where they have flourished for many years and placed in a more secluded and costly environment, such as a nursing home or rehabilitation center.

ARC of Martin County is addressing this concern with a proposal to expand its housing program to include Acute HealthCare Residential Housing apartments.

The plan is to develop a series of small duplexes specifically planned and constructed to accommodate people with both developmental disabilities and acute healthcare needs.

These duplexes will provide affordable and accessible housing for up to 30 people who currently have no funds other than a monthly social security check.

Each residential unit will have 10 separate duplexes and a central section will include offices, training/conference room, social/recreational room and laundry facilities. But, most importantly, there will be a centralized nursing station.

Units will be built to withstand Category 5 hurricane force winds. ARC officials think if capital can be raised to build the Acute HealthCare Residential Housing and the Vocational/Senior Center, the organization will have the leverage of new and existing revenue streams to provide for residents.

Individuals who age and develop more complex healthcare issues will transfer to the Acute HealthCare Residential Housing, remaining close to friends and family members who live locally.

With your financial assistance, ARC of Martin County will continue to enable Treasure Coast citizens with disabilities to become more independent and less reliant on government subsidies, and give parents who have sacrificed for their entire lives, the peace of mind in knowing there is a plan for their loved ones when they are no longer here to provide care themselves.

For more information on how you can help and contribute to this worthy cause, contact Keith Muniz at 772- 283-2525.