What is a day like

[Guest guest]

First a question: have you filed for social security for your son? Now

that he is 18, he qaulifies for social security and could qualify for food

stamps as well.

Elie met his friend at the sheltered workshop. From day one, we expressed

the idea that we were looking for a host family or life sharing partner for

Elie as he would not be happy in a group situation. HE does not other

people making plans for him or making noise around him or eating with him -

unless it is his adult friends!!!!.

One of the staff, a young man of 24 who had worked at the center since he

was a teen, approached us about Him renting/buying a house for himself and

Elie if we could get a residential waiver. We had looked into this after

ruling out INNISFREE (we are from VA) and then CAMPHILL(we lived down the

road from there for a time) . As you say - both those places will take

social security but get no other funds and it costs about $3,000/month -

money we do not have.

Anyway - found a wonderful 2 yo 3 br, 2 bath house in Ellijay - a

mountain little town on the way to Chattanooga. HE is in a lease/purchase

agreement and gets paid $100/day for caring for Elie. He also gets a

portion of Elie's SS and Elie's food stamps (which Elie uses to learn

shopping skills buying food for the house and learning to prepare food).

Then the support person gets about $800/month for working with Elie in the

community for about 20 hours a week. During that time, is going to

school to finish his degree. All of this is under the MEdicaid waiver, Home

and community services.

Elie is now part of the " gang of guys " who grew up together in the

mountains. But he doesn't live with them. , ELie and another firend of

's live at the house. HE goes out to eat with them (his favorite

thing), goes bowling and " girl watching " with them. He rides the golf cart

when they play golf (one of the friends is a semi-pro) and then sits on the

TEE - the guys say he is better than a flag on the tee. reports that

Elie (or L.E. as the guys style it) is a girl magnet. Elie will walk up to

a girl who strikes his attention. Then his first thing is to say - " What's

your name? Want a hug?. The guys did not tell him that. HE always has

said that to strangers. But now he is focusing on interesting girls. Then

the guys have an opening to make an acquaintence. OR as says - now the

girls whom he has known all his life are paying attention to him because of

Elie!

He even plays a new game called ELIE POKER - they play poker with Elie

walking around the table calling out the cards! Rules have been amended to

the players trying to remember what Elie calls out.

The important things - Elie is living a fulfilling life. HE is very happy.

He likes to visit us and for us to visit him - but he makes it clear that it

is only a visit.

Oh yeah - the LR at his new house has a putting green and a bell ringing

basketball shooting maching - Elie LOVES shooting baskets on that machine.

Frat house!!!

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Sara - Life is a journey- we choose the path.