HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-05-17, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2000.
Families provide loving homes for challenged
Giving of themselves and their home
Jim and Lorraine Main, centre, of Ethel opened their home 15 years ago to provide a family
environment to developmentally challenged adults. Robin, left, has lived with the Mains for 11
years and Steven has been with them for three.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Though Jim and Lorraine Main of
Ethel were recently recognized for
15 years of giving, they say they
have received just as much in return.
The couple has offered their home
to developmentally challenged
adults, giving them a home
environment in which to flourish as
well as helping them maintain the
link to their biological families.
Involved in the federal
government’s Familyhome Program
since 1985, Lorraine says their
motivation came from the loss of
two of their own children to heart
disease.
“We had extra love to give,” she
says, but they were not interested in
the heartbreak which can be a part of
short-term care programs. “We
didn’t want to keep saying
goodbye.”
Lorraine began by driving a bus
for developmentally handicapped
adults, admitting she was at first
afraid of them.
Soon she realized that they were
just people and that they are often
devalued.
She and her husband were soon
applying to the special care program
which matches challenged adults
with a family home environment that
works well for all involved.
Their first new family member,
Harold, had lived in an institution for
50 years. The Mains’ home would be
his first family setting. Harold was
deaf, legally blind and had Down’s
Syndrome.
“He was a neat fellow,” says Jim.
Harold lived with the couple for
10 years during which time they
developed a “mutual love
relationship”, Loraine says. “He was
a blessing. He had an amazing
personality.”
Though the Mains say Harold had
his little idiosyncrasies, as a family
member they didn’t see them. “That
was his personality. It was part of the
package.”
Harold succumbed to Alzheimer’s.
They provided a home to Anna for
a shorter period of time until she
died tragically in an accident.
In 1989, Robin arrived then just
three years ago, Steven was added to
the family.
Having visited the Main home
previously, Steven chose to live with
the family when his caregiver passed
away.
“I like it here,” he says, with a
smile.
A real animal lover, Steven loves
the dogs and cats which add to the
liveliness of the home. Able to
venture throughout Ethel on his
own, Steven can often be seen
cleaning up the park by the ball
diamond or shoveling a
neighbouring drive during the
winter.
“The neighbours have been very
sympathetic,” Lorraine says. “We
met a new neighbour through
Steven’s kindness.”
Steven smiles and agrees when
Lorraine says everyone is very good
to him.
Robin, not able to wander the
community like Steven, sticks close
to the house.
“I’ve gotten used to these
fellows,” Jim grins. “It is amazing
how easily they become part of the
family. They are not an intrusion at
all.”
Though many
have commented
on the wonderful
contribution the
Mains are giving,
Jim says he has
learned both
patience and
empathy by
welcoming these
adults into his
home. “They have
made me a different person,
probably for the better.”
Lorraine agrees that she has
received a lot by opening her home.
“They helped heal the losses in my
life. They gave my life meaning and
purpose. I have shed a lot of tears,
but have had as much laughter.”
When asked about the type of
people who become involved in
Familyhome, Lorraine says
participants must open their minds,
look beyond the disabilities and have
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Leaves and yard debris will be picked up on any regular
pickup day, free of charge or no bag tag; providing they are
placed in a dear plastic bag, being clearly visible of the
contents of the bag.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL - THE MORRIS
TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL OFFICE - 519-887-6137
a sense of humour. “You have to
laugh at stuff.”
“People forget what they give us,”
she says. “I don’t know many
(people) that love you
unconditionally.”
Another family who provides care
for two women received recognition
for more than five years of
involvement.
Elizabeth Leuenberger of
Jamestown, finds Isabel and Betty to
be great company when her trucker
husband, Beat, is on the road.
After seeing an ad in the
newspaper in 1991 for support
families, Leuenberger says she
decided to participate. Betty has
been with her since December of
that year.
Though Betty is unable to do
many things on her own and cannot
talk, Leuenberger says she is “really
cute”.
Isobel, who arrived three years
ago, has Down’s Syndrome and a
very short memory, but is able to
help out with the cleaning at some
local shops.
Leuenberger says it is a very nice
job even though there can be a lot of
work.
New to the program, Francine and
Michael Bechard of Ethel added
Familyhome to their community
service two years ago after several
years in the foster care program.
Having provided homes for infants
to teens, Bechard says it was time to
try something else.
Bechard knew the Huron-Perth
social worker for Familyhome, Barb
Barton-McMillan, and soon had
Wendy in her home.
Though Wendy is non-verbal and
of low functionality, Bechard says
she is a joy and gets along
wonderfully with the two Bechard
children who are seven and 10.
Part of the decision to move to the
adult program was for the sake of
stability for the children. Bechard
says it was difficult for everyone
having youngsters leave the home
after they had been there for a year
or more.
“Wendy is marvelous,” Bechard
adds. “She is very hands-on with a
happy disposition. She is a breath of
fresh air. She loves to hug. Wendy is
smile therapy.”
Now with the Bechards for almost
two .years, Wendy has settled in,
attending the Jack Reavie Centre in
Wingham as well as a seniors group
in Brussels.
Bechard says she and her family
have benefitted from involvement in
both foster care and Familyhome.
The children have become
accustomed to seeing handicapped
people, children from every
ethnicity as well as those who are
dealing with drug, alcohol or other
problems.
“It is a great opportunity to discuss
the issues with your children,” she
says.
With her own children in the
home, Bechard always involved
them in the decision making when it
came to welcoming new members to
the family. “It is a family decision as
they have to share their home with
(someone else).”
Bechard also suggests that anyone
interested in becoming a home
provider should do some “self
searching” first. “What are your
abilities and what are you able to
handle. Can you bathe someone?
Can you change an adult diaper?
What are your strong points and
what works with your family?”
Familyhome Program, which
began in 1976 from the Midwestern
LARGE ITEM PICKUP
IN THE HAMLETS OF
“MORRIS TOWNSHIP”
FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2000
The Township of Morris is hosting a “Large Item Pickup” or
“Treasure Swap” Day for all of the residents of the Hamlets in
the Township of Morris on
FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2000
If you have any large items you would like to give away or
dispose of, set them out at the curb by 9:00 a.m. on Friday, i/lay
26, 2000.
Please identify items that are available to be “swapped" by tying
a piece of material on them. All those looking for items must
remember that only the items identified with a piece of material
are available for the taking. The Township is not responsible for
items accidentally removed by error, so all residents should
ensure that all items are correctly labeled or removed from the
area.
Any items not “swapped” on Friday, will be collected by Carter
Waste Disposal on Saturday morning - May 26, 2000,
commencing at 9 a.m. and transferred to the landfill site. If you
wish to save any item not taken on Friday, please remove them
from the curb before 9 a.m. on Saturday morning.
Items that are available for collection are:
• Household furniture
• Appliances
• Barbecues
• Rototillers or other gardening tools
• Lawnmowers
• Lawn chairs and tables
• Clothing
• Refrigerators, freezers or air conditioners - only with a
“Freon Free” sticker.
The following items WILL NOT be picked up:
• Regular household garbage
• Recycling materials
• Construction or Demolition Debris
• Tires
• Agricultural Waste
NOTE - LEAVES & YARD DEBRIS:
Francine
Bechard
Regional Centre in London, placed
children through the Approved
Family Home Program. It eventually
changed as these children grew to
adulthood and needed homes.
Lorraine says the program is more
of a partnership as families are never
alone. “There is so much support.
Barton-McMillan says they are
always looking for
respite families to
assist the full-time
families.
The families which
provide permanent
homes to the adults as
well as those who
offer respite care
grow together as a
family as well, says
Barton-McMillan. They provide
each other with off time, gather for
meetings and outings.
The most important part of the
program is matching the client with
the family, says Barton-McMillan.
“We do a home study and get to
know the family really well. These
are long-term arrangements. They
come to love and care for each
other.”
You Can Make
Difference
HUNTINGTON
DISEASE
HUNTINGTON SOCIETY
OF CANADA
1-800-998-7398