5 Advantages of Shared Living for Adults with IDD
“Mosaic is not a place you go, but something you’re a part of.” – Mosaic President and CEO Linda Timmons
More people are choosing host homes than ever before. In fact, 74% of the people Mosaic serves who are in a 24/7 residential setting are supported through Mosaic at Home, the organization’s shared living service line
The service matches a person with a disability with a Mosaic home provider who offers 24/7 support for the individual’s needs and helps them be an active member of the household and the community.
Here are five advantages of Mosaic at Home:
1. People choose where they live.
Mosaic at Home is available anywhere. Daisy wanted a rural, quieter life. Steven, on the other hand, wanted an active, busy life. For both people, Mosaic at Home made it happen.
According to Pat Costigan, Mosaic’s Vice President of Service Line Management, it all starts with the matching process: “Mosaic identifies what is important to the person and for the person. We then find caregivers who can meet those expectations,” he said.
A goal in the matching process is to always have options for the person, so they have choices. The match looks at things like the desired living situation (single, married, family), hobbies and interests, lifestyle (active, homebody), and more—it is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
2. People choose who they live with.
A big choice in anyone’s life is deciding who you live with. For Mosaic at Home, that means choosing your Home Provider (who will also provide the other supports you need). Mosaic at Home excels in this area.
Best friends Teri and Bootsie wanted to live together. Martin, served through Living Innovations, a service of Mosaic in New England, was seeking companionship because he found living on his own to be lonely.
“We create opportunities for the person and the possible Home Provider to meet and learn about each other. Both of them need to decide if they are a good match for the other,” Costigan said.
3. People have improved outcomes.
Mosaic uses the Personal Outcome Measures® (POMs) from CQL as a framework to measure an individual’s quality of life. There are 21 measures in the tool, plus one Mosaic added. Of those 22, Mosaic at Home measures the highest on 18. The most influential factor determining quality of life is that people choose where and with whom to live.
4. People have a consistent provider.
One of the benefits of Mosaic at Home is consistency, according to Costigan.
“People live in a home setting with one primary caregiver focused on the services important to and for that person,” he said.
The majority of Mosaic at Home providers support one individual. Their attention can be focused, and their guidance consistent. That consistency helps with learning new things, such as Clay expanding his vocabulary or people like Donna experiencing better health through weight loss.
5. People with diverse needs can be supported through Mosaic at Home.
“We can serve most needs if we can find the Home Provider needed for a good match,” Costigan said. “We have been able to serve folks across the spectrum of need.”
Depending upon the state, there may be limitations on what type of medical interventions are able to be done in a host home setting. When Aeden moved into Mosaic at Home, he had been using a G-tube since being a baby. His Home Provider gave him the right support to learn to eat by mouth.
Some of the characteristics Mosaic seeks in a provider, Costigan said, include kindness, compassion, curiosity, responsiveness and reliability. Mosaic is selective, and not everyone who seeks to be a Home Provider is accepted by Mosaic.
Mosaic at Home is part of the spectrum of community-based services Mosaic offers. You can learn more about Mosaic at Home here and learn about becoming a Home Provider here.
To locate services near you, visit Find Services.