CHI - Friendship

Animal Therapy Mission The Mission of Catholic Health Initiatives is to nurture the healing ministry of the Church, supported by education and research. Fidelity to the Gospel urges us to emphasize human dignity and social justice as we create healthier communities. Vision CHI Friendship is devoted to: CATHOLIC: Living Our Mission and CoreValues HEALTH: Improving the Health of the People and Communities We Serve INITIATIVES: Pioneering Models and Systems of Care to Enhance Care Delivery Numerous studies show that people who have pets live healthier lifestyles and live longer. Animals can add aection, compassion, and meaning to a person's life. Many people at CHI Friendship have taken this to a dierent level, incorporating animals into their life through employment, volunteer opportunities, and of course, as pets. LuAnn has a cat named Nemo and thoroughly enjoys her company. Curtis cares deeply for his two sh, Michael and Jackson. Brian's dog, Missy, has brought happiness to him and those around him. "Not only has Missy been a great companion for Brian," explained Gina Neary, Manager, "but she has also been a great therapy animal for many people at Windwood who like pets but aren't quite ready for the expense or responsibility." People have shown great growth through their interactions with animals, learning not only pet care but also work ethic and exercise. Brad built on his love of dogs to develop his own dog-walking business. Phillip and Kenny volunteer at CATS Cradle every week. Employment Specialist Lori Ramsey describes one amazing example of animal responsibility. "Tyler works at a vet clinic and handles small domesticated pets as well as large farm animals," Ramsey said. "He loves his job and isn't afraid to help the vet out with anything." The number of animals oering some level of connection to people during the week at CHI Friendship is truly staggering. Pets include cats, dogs, sh, horses, even a charming turtle named Sunshine, who has brought joy to Curt for years. This provides a great picture of how caring for animals can bring about a lifeof love, selessness, responsibility, and ultimately, meaning. People Choose Where and With Whom They Live. A great deal of planning and decision making goes into choosing a living situation. Do I want a roommate? Apartment or house? In town or out of town? And the list goes on. We've seen a number of people supported by CHI Friendship go through some of these changes recently. People often receive assistance from guardians, residential managers, and Qualied Developmental Disability Professionals (QDDPs) to help them make an informed decision around a new home life. The QDDPs at CHI Friendship were recently asked to provide some insight regarding these processes. It was clear that health and safety ranked highest among priorities for choosing living situations. Also of utmost importance was choosing a compatible roommate, accessibility in the home, and cost. Does the person require a ground- level entrance or access to an elevator? Have potential roommates spent enough time together to see if they'd like to share their home together? These are weighty questions, and people deserve to be satised with the answers before moving forward. The QDDPs also shared some success stories from recent residential moves. "One person recently moved from an apartment setting into a group home. He has had many new opportunities," said Heidi Lien, QDDP with CHI Friendship. "He has received medical care that is leading him to a healthier lifestyle. He is a very happy man and so is his family." Everyone desires a home life that feels safe, peaceful, and enjoyable. This collaborative eort among people supported and sta is what it takes to help someone be able to say, "I'm home." LuAnn Kukuk and Nemo Nancy Benson and Moses CHI Friendship's QDDPs CHI FRIENDSHIP /// www.chifriendship.com 3

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