Discovering The Mature Lifestyle
Health insurance counseling offered in Minnetonka. Page 3
LTC Care
October 16, 2015
October Issue
Adult foster care is a care option at one Fridley facility BY SUE WEBBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Kerry Anderson and her husband, Scott, have a special kind of family at their home in Fridley. They have been a licensed adult foster care home since 2008, and have four adults living with them. “We knew friends who had a similar situation,” Anderson said. “We found a great home for it in Fridley.” Their housemates include three women and one man ranging in age from 49 to 68. Each of their residents has a private bedroom, and is expected to keep their room clean and bus their own dishes after meals. Two of the women go to Camilia Rose Adult Day Care two days a week, and the other two residents work three to five times a week at RISE, an agency that serves 3,500 men and woman a year in 16 counties who have a wide ranging of disabilities and/or barriers to employment and housing. Although the residents’ own family members sometimes are able to help transport them to appointments, the Andersons pick up the slack with transportation as necessary. “It takes a little doing in the beginning,” Anderson said. “There can be turnover if it doesn’t work out, but we’ve had these people with us from the beginning. It’s permanent housing for them. They all have disabilities and are unable to live on their own. They need structure and supervision. We provide meals and laundry and activities for them.”
Kerry and Scott Anderson have been a licensed adult foster care home in Fridley since 2008. (Submitted photo) Anderson is familiar with caregiving. She has worked in home care since 1980. “The work is on the order of what I was doing when I took care of people in their homes,” Anderson said. “For the residents, it’s an alternative to a nursing home setting.” A backup is available if the Andersons need to be away from home, she said, noting that someone always has to be at home with the residents. “It’s a busy house, but we’re lucky,” she
said. “We’ve got a great group of people. We enjoy it, and we enjoy our people.” Prior to the residents moving in to the Anderson’s home, a social worker and case manager visited the home, and the Andersons met the future residents and their family members, she said. A native of Plymouth and Armstrong High School graduate, Anderson said her first job was in a nursing home, and then she switched into doing home care. Scott Anderson grew up in Golden Valley and
spent his career as a tile setter, stone person and carpenter. Prior to buying the home just off East River Road in Fridley and becoming an adult foster care home, the couple decided they’d like to pursue a different option. “We both felt this would be a good fit for us,” Anderson said. “We are rocks to each other. We do everything together. We’ve got it down to a routine. One person couldn’t handle it alone.” The house, she said, is laid out “absolutely perfectly” for what they are doing. “The whole thing just fell into place,” she said. “We’re very happy with what we’ve accomplished. The best reward is seeing people change for the better and improve their quality of life. We’ve seen that happen with several of our residents.” Darcy Halter, who works with Family Support Services as part of Anoka County’s Social Services Department, said there are 186 foster homes in Anoka County. “We always are in need of more, particularly for young adults, people with mental health issues or developmental disabilities, or children or adults who are transitioning out of other facilities,” Halter said. According to the Minnesota Department of Health website: “Adult family foster care is a licensed, living arrangement that provides food, lodging, supervision, and household services. They may also provide personal care and medication assistance. Adult foster care providers may be licensed to serve up to four adults or five adults if all fosANDERSON - TO PAGE 2