Graceworks Enhanced Living News 2017

A Feeling of Community

For Graceworks Enhanced Living, 2017 was a year of growth. Now 41 properties strong, Enhanced Living celebrated the opening of its first home in West Carrollton in May. Like all Enhanced Living properties, the new West Carrollton home is special because of its residents and caregivers. The home was built from the ground-up to meet the accessibility needs of the women who live in the residence. This was a team effort with contributions from Miami Valley In-Ovations (MVIO), a nonprofit housing corporation that develops safe, affordable, and accessible housing for persons with developmental disabilities and the Montgomery County Board of Developmental Disabilities Services. The house’s staff and management are provided by Graceworks Enhanced Living. After the Montgomery County Developmental Center closed, three ladies who were used to living together suddenly needed a new place to live. Graceworks Enhanced Living met that need and was also able to hire some of the caregivers from the center. This fostered an immediate sense of home for the women. As with all Graceworks Enhanced Living homes, the caregivers abide by the methods of gentle teaching. This has proved helpful and enabled the ladies to flourish. “We were told the home would be a challenge,” explains Senior Services Manager Cari Oehlenschlager. “We braced ourselves but everything turned out fine. The ladies need and enjoy structure and organization. Watching them go from an institutional life to one in a community environment is special.” Today, four women call the West Carrollton residence home. Look for them having fun in the community the next time you’re around town.