Chimes

Residential Services - Maryland

Chimes Maryland Residential programs fall into four broad categories: Residences managed by Chimes. Private homes under Chimes supervision, where people with disabilities live as members of the family. A residential facility for senior citizens with developmental disabilities. Support for people who live in the community, either with their families or on their own.
We wish to stress that all Chimes residential facilities, programs, and services are fully licensed by the State of Maryland. In every case, we have received the highest level of certification possible, and often our regular recertification inspections receive perfect scores. It is also important for you to know that all staff members are trained to work with participants, and that we provide frequent in-service education programs to increase their skills and knowledge. The staff at Curtis Hall, our senior living facility, have all received special training in working with elderly people.
*Residences Managed by Chimes - Community Homes and Apartments* Chimes residences serving between one and eight people are part of neighborhoods throughout the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas. All of our residences are designed for people with disabilities, and some serve people with physical or mental health needs as well. We offer a broad range of options from homes for people with multiple handicapping conditions who require 24-hour supervision and assistance, to homes for people who function at such a high level that they only require drop-in supervision. We work closely with potential participants, their families, service coordinators, other provider agencies, and the professional staff of the State's Developmental Disabilities Administration, which is responsible for funding, to determine the best living arrangement for each person. Every new placement is closely monitored, and we are very willing to try different placements until the participant finds the right fit.
Types of Needs Supported Chimes community homes serve people with a wide range of needs. Here is a sample of the disabilities that are well within our capabilities: Non-ambulatory Unable to coordinate movement Unable to speak Moderate to mild retardation Complex medical problems Dual diagnosis Blindness Autism Cerebral palsy Profound retardation Behavioral problems In addition to residences for one or more people, Chimes has the resources and the expertise to develop one-of-a-kind homes for individuals with unique needs. We will be happy to tell you about such projects we have undertaken in the past.
Professional Services Available Chimes uses a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure that each participant receives care that is geared to his or her needs. One of our case managers works with the participant, the family, and the appropriate professionals from our staff to identify outcomes and determine goals, objectives, and plans for achieving them. The result is a blueprint for meeting the participant's needs and helping to fulfill his or her potential. The types of professionals who could be involved include: Doctors Behavioral specialists Occupational therapists Physical therapists Psychologists Nurses Nutritionists Art therapists In addition, Chimes on-site caregivers are fully trained professionals who work under the supervision of senior staff and undertake frequent in-service training to keep their skills at a high level. Their positions are part of a well-defined career path that offers them opportunities for growth.
Additional Advantages Because Chimes is a full-service agency, participation in the residential program offers links to our vocational training, day habilitation, and employment programs. Each home plans its own recreational activities, and once each quarter the entire residential program sponsors a large-scale activity such as a picnic or holiday party. We also encourage residents to enjoy doing things with support or on their own, from gardening to going to Orioles games. Residents have adequate transportation, such as regular or specially equipped vehicles with trained drivers, or linkages with public transportation. Chimes actively encourages residents to learn and improve skills that will lead to increasing independence. We also promote participation in the community through religious affiliations, volunteer work, citizenship activities and other resources.
*Private Homes Under Chimes Supervision - Individualized Family Services* For some people, becoming part of a family unit is the best solution. They need the greater stability of living with a single provider family on a long-term basis, rather than adjusting to the occasional staff changes and resident changes of a group home. Often their confidence and behavior improve greatly as they become part of their new family. Chimes offers these people the opportunity to live with families in Baltimore City and County whose homes are licensed by the state. The families are carefully screened and undergo training to work with participants, and they are monitored by visits from staff at least three times a month on an ongoing basis. They also participate in the in-service training that staff members in Chimes-operated homes take. The major features of Individualized Family Care are: Participants and their families choose the home they want. There are preliminary visits and a 30-day trial period, and it is sometimes necessary to try several homes before finding the right one. We welcome continuing liaison with the natural family. Chimes family placements are available for people of all ages, from children to senior citizens. We accept people with all levels of disabilities, but the most severe level of physical disability we can accommodate is blindness, deafness, or the need to use a walker. Provider families may host from one to three Chimes residents. All of the services and resources of the Community Homes and Apartments program are available to people in Individualized Family Care. Many placements are very long-term. A resident is practically adopted into the family, sharing their traditions, religious worship, interests, recreation, and all other aspects of family life.
*Residential Facility for Senior Citizens With Disabilities - Curtis Hall* Curtis Hall, which is located on a beautiful campus in the Mount Washington area of Baltimore, was Maryland's first community-based residential option for older adults with disabilities. It serves 33 people, many of whom have the usual problems of aging as well. Curtis Hall is an assisted living facility, not a nursing home. That means it is not licensed to offer ongoing nursing services or care for advanced medical conditions. Residents who develop conditions beyond our scope go to nursing homes, and we work closely with their staffs to assure a smooth transition. The Admissions section of this website gives our criteria for accepting residents. Life at Curtis Hall Residents live in a tree-shaded suburban setting with other seniors like themselves and a caring staff. Families are always welcome, and we are happy to have them to take part in activities at the center. Among the services and options available to our residents are: Assistance with activities of daily living, and individualized attention to make sure the resident is safe and secure. Participation in the Chimes senior day habilitiation program at the Terry Allen Perl Center a short distance away. A full- or part-time job in a Chimes vocational program. Attendance at religious worship services in the community. Recreational activities on campus, including parties, performances, bowling, horseshoes, and bingo. We also encourage residents to enjoy community recreation, such as clubs based on personal interests, volunteer work, or attendance at cultural and sports events. Medical and Related Services Medical services are geared to the needs of seniors with disabilities; medication monitoring, for example, is continuous from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. There is 24-hour access to registered nurses, and a designated nurse who reviews each patient's needs on a regular and frequent basis. A physician is available, and a nurse practitioner is always on call. Admissions As we mentioned before, Curtis Hall is an assisted living facility, not a nursing home. Residents must be able to meet these criteria: They must be independently mobile, either entirely on their own or with the help of a cane, walker, or wheelchair that they know how to use. A physician must certify that they are free from any mental condition that makes them a danger to self or others. They must be at least 50 years old or have a physician's documented diagnosis of early onset aging related to their disabilities. Most people looking for a placement at Curtis Hall come to Chimes after the Maryland Developmental Disabilties Administration has approved funding for them. We are glad to have a preliminary discussion with anyone who comes to us directly. Placement, though, depends on meeting our admissions criteria and getting funding approval. If the discussion shows that our program does not meet the person's needs, we provide referrals to other resources.
*Support for People Who Live in the Community - Support Services* This program serves people with disabilities who live with their families. It provides a variety of services designed to help the family remain together as a unit. On occasion, services may also be offered to individuals living independently or in other community service settings. Individual Support Services In-Home Supports Chimes uses the case management system to ensure that each participant receives care that is geared to his or her needs. One of our case managers works with the participant and family to determine goals, objectives, and plans for achieving them. The result is a blueprint for meeting the participant's needs and helping to fulfill his or her potential. In-home supports for an individual's plan could include: Adaptive technology, from specialized eating utensils to a customized wheelchair Communications technology, which can be as complex as a computer and software Nursing care Attendant care Information and referral services Transportation Links to Chimes vocational and day habilitation services. Respite Care Every family caring for a member with disabilities needs a break from time to time. Chimes staff members can arrange for people to come into the home for a short-term respite, such as a day of shopping or an evening at a social event. If a longer respite is needed (say, for a vacation) Chimes offers placement in a temporary home. The temporary homes are also a valuable option when someone is waiting for a permanent placement.
Behavioral Support Services This program is designed for families or others caring for someone who has behavioral problems in addition to disabilities. It offers two services: in-home or out-of-home respite care of the kind described in the last section, using professionals and paraprofessionals who are trained in dealing with behavioral problems; and addressing specific behaviors that the family cannot cope with on its own. In the latter instance, we are brought in by a psychologist or other behavioral professional to implement a program that he or she has created to change an undesirable behavior. We conduct sessions with the participant and family in the home, but we report to the behavioral professional in charge of the case. Community Supported Living Arrangements A number of the people we serve function at a high enough level to live on their own in the community, with varying degrees of support. For these people, we offer training and periodic supervision in such areas as: Shopping Cooking Household chores Handling cash Budgeting and banking Using public transportation Individual or group recreation activities Joining community organizations As participants become more skilled and confident in these areas, Chimes professional services drop to an appropriate level.