Several adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in Graceworks Enhanced Living homes have resided with us for more than a decade. The houses have become their homes and staff have become like family. For many individuals served, that also means they prefer to be able to live their entire lives in their homes and have the ability to receive therapy, medical care, and even hospice support in a familiar environment.

“Many of the individuals we serve don’t have outside family,” said Jack Wooldridge, Graceworks Enhanced Living Services Manager. “We serve many residents for years and we become their family. That comfort of having people around them that love and serve them is important to us all.”

Arminta Gautam and Jack Wooldridge

Arminta Gautam takes that creed to heart, making sure that every individual served can age safely and with dignity. Arminta has been the group home manager at the Greenleaf home in Dayton for the last six years and has a remarkable way of building more than a team among the staff of direct support professionals — she’s built a family.

Douglas Sword, a longtime member of that Greenleaf family, loved making the staff laugh and enjoyed spending his days at the Greenleaf home trying new foods, completing word puzzles, and listening to rock music. Greenleaf was the place Doug felt comfortable.

As Doug’s health began to decline, Arminta stepped in to advocate for him. And when he needed more support, Arminta brought hospice care into the Greenleaf home so he could remain in a familiar setting surrounded by the people who care, enabling him to live out the last weeks of his life as he chose.

“We kept him secure and happy by providing for his needs in the home instead of moving him elsewhere,” said Jack. “Whenever he was at the hospital or appointments, he couldn’t wait to get home. Once we were able to put needed services in place, we advocated for him so he could stay home where he was most comfortable.”

From making sure the right equipment was in Doug’s room to preparing homemade dinners for Doug and those supporting him, Arminta went above and beyond to ensure Doug was able to spend his final days in safety, comfort, and – most importantly – knowing he was loved.

“The culture Arminta has created in the home keeps the staff highly engaged,” said Jack. “She provides that level of care that really can’t be taught. Her staff sees her willingness to go the extra mile and they want to provide that, too. She’s an excellent example of a home manager who wants to provide remarkable experiences for others every day.”

“We become the voice for residents when they no longer have that. Doug was his own guardian and was a good advocate for himself, but it was an honor for me to advocate on his behalf. I knew him and his wants and his needs, so being able to advocate for our individuals is an honor.”

Arminta Gautam, Home Manager, Graceworks Enhanced Living

See more stories in Graceworks’ 2023 Annual Report: Remarkable People

A core part of our mission is supporting adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities with dignity and wholeness. Our culture of faithful caring led Graceworks Enhanced Living staff to go above and beyond when a recent move increased the distance between Trent and his family. Trent had never lived alone before he joined the family in one of our Dayton homes nearly 10 years ago. What Trent quickly found was that it was a perfect home for him to experience living independently, especially when he found a job of his own. When Trent’s parents recently moved to Cincinnati for a new job opportunity, the Dayton team knew they needed to support Trent in finding a new place that was closer to his parent’s home.

“We all wanted Trent to stay in our Graceworks family,” said Kelly Bergstrom, senior services manager. “His parents would have continued to drive to Dayton every weekend to pick him up for home visits, but we knew there had to be a better option for him.”

During a staff meeting, Kelly’s ears perked up when she heard another manager mention an opening at one of our Cincinnati homes that was much closer to Trent’s parents.

Trent was determined to make the decision to move on his own. With the full support of the team, Trent set up his own visits, tours, and overnight stays, and eventually fell in love with the new home and individuals – only telling his parents after he’d decided to make the move and had made all the arrangements. He was even able to transfer his job to a Cincinnati location near his new home.

“Trent has grown so much since he first moved in. He’s finding his voice with the support of a caring staff. If you look at the picture of the day he moved into his new house, he has such joy on his face because he’s home. This is the right place for him.”

– Kelly Bergstrom, Senior Services Manager, Graceworks Enhanced Living

In the end, Trent got what he wanted and needed by staying with the Graceworks family while being close to his family. And he moved the way he wanted to, leading with his own choices and the Enhanced Living team guiding him to ensure he maintained his independence.

Day programs, such as those offered by Graceworks Enhanced Living, provide a place for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be active within their community and socialize with others, outside of a home environment. These coordinated programs give participants the independence and freedom to be themselves and pursue their interests, while at the same time providing necessary support and care that is catered to their unique needs.

To learn more about the value of activity and community-based programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we sat down with Scott Osterfeld, Director of Day Program and Waiver Services at Graceworks Enhanced Living.

When did you first realize you wanted to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities?

I think it was in junior high that I discovered I wanted to work in the disability field. I always thought it was unfair that the kids with intellectual disabilities were never with me in the same classroom, or in gym classes, lunch, or school dances. This was my first inclination to invest my life in this field and provide opportunities for individuals to participate in daily life within their communities.

I’ve been working in the disability field for 32 years now. I started working in a children’s home in 1986 and then worked in various community homes for people with intellectual disabilities. About a year and a half ago, I began working at Graceworks Enhanced Living as the Director of Day Program and Waiver Services. My job is to oversee our two day programs in Montgomery and Hamilton County, and mentor and supervise the managers of these programs.

What kinds of activities do individuals participate in during the Day Programs?

The entire focus and purpose of Day Programming offered by Graceworks Enhanced Living is to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities become more involved and integrated into their community. During the day, our staff will take individuals out to different places, so they can experience the activities that they enjoy doing.

Each participant in our day program has a service plan, which lists the activities that they love to do. For example, if an individual loves animals, we’ll make sure they get to interact with animals, whether it’s going to a local park or the aquarium or zoo. Other examples of outings include going to restaurants, seeing plays, getting manicures, or going to a cultural event within the community. We’ll also organize hands-on arts and crafts and exercise activities.

Why is Day Programming so important?

Day programs ultimately enhance the lives of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Instead of being isolated from others, they are out and about, doing the things that everyone else is doing. Our goal is to create an environment where these individuals are fully integrated and active members of their community and enjoy a higher quality of life. Caregivers and family members benefit from the day programs as well, because it gives them time to themselves for errands, work, or self-care.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

What I like most is the team atmosphere I have with my co-workers. Being able to mentor our staff has allowed me to pass on my knowledge and help them grow. While I may not make a direct, day-to-day impact, I am able to effectively equip and empower the managers and staff, so they can go forth and make a difference in the lives of the individuals we serve.

I also strive to go out of my way to show our staff that I appreciate and value them. I have a “Manager Appreciation Menu,” where, once a month, managers can pick something off the list that I will do for them. For example, I will deliver takeout to their family, get them a gift card, take the company vehicle for an oil change, or bring over cookies and snacks. It’s important to do those little things that show the staff that I’m thinking about them, and I appreciate their hard work.

What has been a highlight of your experience working at Graceworks Enhanced Living?

For the day programs, a huge highlight is seeing people do the things that they enjoy. I remember a group of individuals went to the University of Dayton arena to watch the basketball teams practice before the NCAA tournament. Everyone had so much fun and got to be a part of the experience. It means a lot to watch people go out and do the things they enjoy, just like everybody else.

Another highlight was a block party hosted by some of the residents in one of the Graceworks Enhanced Living homes. Together with our staff, the residents opened their doors to their neighbors and invited them over for a block party with food and music. It provided a chance for the neighbors in the community to get to know the residents a little bit better, enjoy each other’s company and create a stronger connection throughout the neighborhood. It was really amazing to watch.

Learn more about Graceworks Enhanced Living

As our name implies, we enhance lives every day through our Graceworks Enhanced Living services. Everything we do is based on our principles of Gentle Teaching, servant leadership, and building community.

Our Montgomery and Hamilton County Day Programs are uniquely designed to cater to each of our client’s needs as a group while at the same time giving them independence and freedom to be themselves individually. Participants in our Montgomery and Hamilton County day programs enjoy a broad range of recreation and leisure activities. Activities are planned based on each individual’s needs. Some of our activities include hands-on arts and crafts, daily exercise, current events exploration and community outings. We also offer separate activity rooms for those who require a quieter environment to thrive. Day programming services are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., excluding holidays.

In addition to day programming, Graceworks Enhanced Living provides a variety of services to persons with developmental and intellectual disabilities, including residential services with 24/7 care and medical and non-medical transportation services.

To request further information about our day programs or supportive residential services, please contact us. We would be delighted to speak with you!

It can be difficult for caregivers of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to “let go” and allow them to find a more independent lifestyle. As with any change, there is always a natural fear of the unknown. Caregivers may ask themselves questions like:

Will he be able to get along on his own?

Will she be able to take care of her daily needs?

Will people overestimate their abilities and put them at risk?

Will they get hurt?

Will they become isolated or withdraw from too much stimulation?

But, caregivers can take heart by a recent focus group study that found most individuals with intellectual disabilities want to lead a life where they can live as independently as possible within their communities.

Residential or community living has been shown to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities achieve the sense of independence they’re seeking while receiving the level of physical, mental and emotional support they need.

An enhanced support network fosters shared responsibility

Community living builds a more extensive network of caregivers and teachers who take the time to let individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn on their own. “Gentle teaching” where individuals are provided the space they need to develop skills and accomplish daily tasks helps them take on more responsibility. And, that, in turn, promotes a sense of pride and independence.

Social interaction helps break the chain of dependence

Having people to interact with in addition to primary caregivers is one way for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to build more self-confidence and involvement. Community living may also contribute to an individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Research finds that there’s a long list of healthy-living benefits to having an extended community of supporters, including:

o   Reduced stress and anxiety

o   Faster healing

o   Improved memory function

o   Less pain

o   Generally, leading a longer, happier life.

Everyone deserves to be a part of his or her community and reap the benefits of having a supportive network of peers and friends.

Community living expands choices

With the right learning opportunities, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities can flourish. But when it comes to learning, one size does not fit all.

Community groups offer encouragement, not control, of an individual’s choices for their hobbies and interests. Sometimes all it takes is exposure to one new activity for your loved one to find what he or she really loves to do.

Increasing your loved one’s opportunities to make their own decisions about what’s right for them is just one more step on the way to building their independence.

At Graceworks Enhanced Living, building community is what we do

Graceworks Enhanced Living, affiliated with Graceworks Lutheran Services, provides residential living, support, and daily care for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We create strong, safe settings for growth where the people we support and their caregivers can come together to form a positive, nurturing community. We provide services in nearly 40 residential settings including intermediate care facilities (ICFs), licensed and non-licensed homes. See the locations we serve.

At Graceworks Enhanced Living, we believe that individuals thrive when they can make their own decisions and live interdependently with others. Our innovative day programs provide group and individual recreational and leisure activities that will give your loved one a sense of accomplishment and self-worth.

Find out more about our supportive residential services for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We’re here to answer all your questions and put your mind at ease.

Everyone deserves the right to be fully included and immersed in their community and enjoy opportunities to live, learn, grow, work and socialize with others side by side. This includes older adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities, who need varying levels of support with things like transportation, shopping for groceries and clothes, and finding community employment.

All people, with and without disabilities, should be able to live where they choose, with the people they choose. But older adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities often face barriers to finding the right housing for their needs and becoming fully immersed in their communities. However, through residential living services like those offered by Graceworks Enhanced Living, older adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities are able to live in homes, apartments, and communities of their choice with access to the care and supports they may need on a daily basis.

According to the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, there are numerous benefits to living in smaller community settings. People with disabilities who live in these environments lead safer, more independent, and more satisfying lives. Living in a community setting allows residents to enjoy a rich social life in a welcoming, family-like setting made up of their peers, something that they might not have been able to experience if they lived with family or on their own.

Community living gives older adults with disabilities a chance to live as independently as possible, enabling them to become more active and contributing members within their communities while still ensuring their needs for care and safety are met.

At Graceworks Enhanced Living, we believe in the value of community inclusion for everyone, and we understand how important it is to find supportive residential services for loved ones with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We strive to break down barriers to community inclusion by providing residential living, support and daily care in a safe and loving environment. We also provide day programs and non-medical transportation for those living with intellectual disabilities.

Find out more about our supportive residential services and day programs. We’d be happy to speak with you and answer your questions.