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Older Disabled People Find a Place To Call Home
[November 03, 2007]
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Edmonton Journal
By Jamie Hall
At 77, Olga Godowski has never been on her own.
She lived with her parents until they died and for the past 35 years has lived in supported care.
Now she has five roommates at the L'Arche Ted Bradshaw House, a group home which opened its doors Friday in Bonnie Doon.
Its residents are older people with developmental disabilities, who are often at risk of homelessness when they can no longer rely on family.
The 10-unit home provides safe, supportive and affordable housing around the clock.
The $1.5-million, three-storey facility, which is fully accessible and has an elevator, is the result of a partnership involving the L'Arche Association of Edmonton, the federal government and a host of community partners.
"This is the type of project we need to be focusing on to fight homelessness in Edmonton," said Susan McGee, acting executive director of The Edmonton Housing Trust Fund, which contributed $300,000.
Mike Lake, MP for Mill Woods-Beaumont, was there as a politician, but he spoke as a father when he broke away from his prepared text.
"I have an 11-year-old son who has autism and as a parent I think about what will happen to him when we're no longer there to take care of him," he said.
"It's very inspiring to see a place like this and to see wonderful people who care so much and who understand."
Two of the residents have varying degrees of dementia and Alzheimer's.
To reduce their stress and anxiety, a separate suite with a bedroom, sitting room and bathroom has been constructed in the house. Nothing in their rooms will be moved or changed to make sure their surroundings will always be predictable.
L'Arche Edmonton has six group homes and is part of a worldwide non-profit organization whose mandate is to meet the needs of adults with developmental disabilities. It serves individuals 18 and older. The average age of the adult residents at the Bonnie Doon home is 60.
The house is named after Ted Bradshaw, a long-time L'Arche resident whose family got the idea for the project following his death seven years ago.
"Ted gave so much love and hope to everyone he met and to everything he did," said L'Arche Edmonton's executive director Grant Kaminski.
"He now has helped us achieve a dream of providing a home for those in need."
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