Jill came to live at CLL in December of 2006, after spending the previous 24 years at home with her family. She had been on the waiting list for almost 5 years and it was truly a relief for her parents to receive the telephone call informing them of the vacancy, as they had begun to wonder who would care for her as they grew older. Jill’s family had had its share of crises, and according to her mother, “She really needed stability and we knew Cedar Lake could provide that.” While they were saddened to see their daughter leave the nest, Jill’s parents were also excited for her, knowing the opportunities that she would have to learn and grow as an adult.

Our staff have gotten to know Jill and have realized that there is much more going on inside of her than she might lead you to believe. Although she is a person of few words, she is able to make herself very clear in communicating what her wants and needs are. Jill also has a mischievous streak that shows itself occasionally, and our staff really enjoy those moments.

One of the unique opportunities that Jill may experience would be moving into one of the new community ICFs/MR that Cedar Lake will be developing. The staff at CLL feel that Jill could be ready for this move by the time the homes are developed, and we are working with her to help her achieve this goal. Janice Cox, Director of Dietary Services and Jill’s QMRP (case manager), said, “I think this move would be excellent for Jill. I believe that she would benefit from living in a smaller environment where the staff can work with her to help her realize her full independence and potential.”