At GoodLife Innovations, we know how important it is to find the right residential services for your loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability. We provide a range of options to meet the needs of our residents and help each individual thrive.
If you’re like most families, navigating the world of Kansas disability services can feel confusing, overwhelming, and even a bit scary. But whether you’re just beginning to explore your options, or have been on a waiting list in Kansas for several years already, we are eager to help you and would love for you to consider GoodLife as your go-to provider.
We offer a LOT of services at GoodLife, but want to focus on our Residential Services today and are here to answer some of your frequently-asked questions. We hope this will answer some of your questions about our services and how we operate in order to give you a better idea of what to expect during our admissions process. Over the next few months, we’ll be discussing the answers for each of these questions in more detail so if you’re interested in more information on a particular question, be sure to check back!
1. What does the financial part of services look like? Who pays for what and how much?
The first step in the financial process is determining if your loved one has funding through the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Intellectual/Developmental Disability waiver. Families can contact their local Community Developmental Disability Organization (CDDO) to determine eligibility, apply for funding, and get more information about the opportunities and services in your area. If your loved one doesn’t have a waiver option, they may still receive services through private pay.
2. How do we start the application process and apply for services at GoodLife?
Once your funding is in place, you need to fill out our initial screening form, which can be found online. After you’ve filled out the screening form, our team will contact you to talk about your needs, explore which GoodLife services might be a good fit, and have you complete the full admissions application. After the application and documents have been submitted, the process usually includes meeting with you in-person, reviewing your file, taking you on a tour of potential residences, and attending an informal remote assessment meeting. All these pieces must be in place prior to transitioning into any GoodLife residence. But don’t worry! We are here to answer any questions and help you with the application process.
3. When can my loved one move into GoodLife’s residential services?
GoodLife offers a range of residential service models for adults, 18 years or older. For those who want to transition into our services, you will need to work with our Director of Admissions to complete our comprehensive admissions process. Those who are just starting our services will have multiple visits to the intended placement prior to transitioning into our services. This can take several months and all of these pieces must be in place prior to placement in any GoodLife home.
4. What are the options for residential and who gets to decide what program my loved one will be placed in?
Finding the right support services for your loved one is our primary goal. GoodLife currently has three residential service options, each tailored to different levels of need. While all models aim to increase independence, the amount of support and supervision varies. During the admission process, we work with the individual and family to find the best possible placement.
5. What if my child/loved one doesn’t like their roommates?
It can be difficult when roommates don’t get along. That’s why we devote so much time to the application process and scheduling visits. We want everyone to be comfortable in their home, so if a challenge arises after placement, we will bring in a consultant to help resolve it. When resolutions can’t be reached, other roommate matches or placements within GoodLife may be considered.
Final thoughts on the Top 5 questions about GoodLife’s Residential Services
While this may not cover all the questions you have, we hope this blog gives you a better understanding of what we offer and what to expect during the admissions process.
If you’d like more in-depth information on any one of these questions, come back next month as we explore the details for question number 1. In the meantime, we’re here to help! If you have additional questions, please contact Nichole Reiske, GoodLife’s Director of Admissions, at nicholereiske@mygoodlife.org, 913-980-8135. You can also subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get each of our blog posts delivered right to your inbox.
