What is a Transition Facilitator? by Stephanie George
There are many reasons individuals end up in nursing homes: lack of adequate information; lack of coordination between agencies to determine what services could support them in the community; people are unsure of whether they can live in the community independently; lack of affordable, accessible housing; low personal maintenance allowance; and lack of resources to set up a household.
As a Transition Facilitator, I have been working on a statewide grant project funded by the Virginia Board of People with Disabilities, Consumer Choice in Community Living. Facilitators at each CIL in Virginia have been conducting outreach visits at each nursing home in their service area to provide information to residents with disabilities about CILs and supports available in the community as an alternative to nursing home services.
Facilitators also conduct interviews to find out about nursing home residents’ decisions to live in the nursing homes and supports they may need to transition to community living. By doing the outreach and interviews, I have been able to identify people with disabilities that may transition into their own homes if they choose to do so. The information gathered will be used to inform policy makers of the needs and barriers facing people who want to transition.
People with disabilities have the right to choose the kind of setting in which they want to receive their services. Remember, individuals have the right to be in charge of the decisions made on their behalf! If you would like information about receiving personal care in your own home, please contact IEC.
from Winter 2007 Newsletter, Volume 2 Issue 1
