A modern and efficient living space is what many homeowners set out to achieve when building a house, but for those with developmental disabilities, that dream tends to be far from reality.
That is set to change with the construction of the state’s first barrier-free “smart house” designed especially for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Living Resources, a Capital District nonprofit, held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, May 1, for the group home to be located off Ardsley Road in Guilderland.
Living Resources CEO Frederick Erlich said he was thrilled to see the project entering the final stage and the frame being built. It has been five years since the project was first conceived.
“As our residents age, they face more daunting challenges than other senior citizens because of their disabilities. Building new energy-efficient, barrier-free housing will offer a permanent, cost-effective solution while promoting the concept of independent living,” Erlich said.
Guilderland Town Supervisor Ken Runion welcomed the home and applauded it for being environmentally friendly. He said the home was a “good fit” for the town.
“Our board was 100 percent behind having this home in the Town of Guilderland,” Runion said. “We realize and we welcome the opportunity to serve our disabled population as well as our aging population.”
Erlich thanked BBL Construction Services for sticking with the project even though it “took so long to get up and running.”
“This is a big and important project for us … and is great to be here today to see this,” BBL Construction Services President Steve Obermayer said. “This was a real eye opener for us to see the way Fred (Erlich) battles for the funding of these projects.”
The project is funded by a $650,000 grant secured from the state legislature by Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Delmar, and some additional technology enhancements will be privately funded.
The single-floor home will have natural lighting with automatic lighting in designated areas, and solar panels will help reduce the building’s carbon footprint. There are also web-based medical supports for medications and tracking the vital signs of residents. Other features are to make the home more accessible, such as wider doorways and expanded bathrooms with roll-in showers.
Living Resources Board of Directors Vice-President Richard Fuerst said “being home” has a unique meaning for each person and most people probably wouldn’t choose to live in a nursing home.
“Individuals with disabilities deserve the same choices we have about where they call home,” Fuerst said. “Being at home means being a member of our community. It means experiencing all that life has to offer including the rewards as well as the challenges. As we know, meeting life’s challenges is what defines us.”
Erlich said Living Resources has already identified six people to live in the home, which is anticipated to be ready in September. The organization houses 36 individuals in facilities that don’t meet their current needs.
“Living Resources expects as many as 33 percent of our group home residents to reach the age of 60 over the next decade. The combination of emerging health issues among the aging population and the structural limitations of housing that doesn’t accommodate the needs of consumers can no longer be tolerated,” Erlich said in a statement. “Building more homes like ours is a critical step in the search to find compassionate solutions to the challenges of caring for one of the most vulnerable segments of our population.”