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?This is all about Lewis'

Amherst New Era Progress - 11/28/2017

Lewis Yowell, 71, lived at Central Virginia Training Center for nearly 44 years before he joined Tim and Patty Robertson in their Madison Heights home in 2014 as part of a sponsored residential program.

CVTC, located in Madison Heights, houses people with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities and is closing in 2020 as part of a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice. The agreement followed a DOJ investigation concluding Virginia fails to provide appropriately integrated services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Since the 2012 settlement, hundreds of residents in the state's training centers have, like Yowell, been integrated into community settings.

When discharged, they are being sent to group homes as well as sponsored residential homes run by organizations such as Wall Residences, Lutheran Family Services of Virginia and DePaul Community Resources.

Yowell, who has a developmental disability, moved into the Robertsons' home in 2014with the help of DePaul Community Resources and no longer lives on a regimented daily schedule.

"He isn't on a routine anymore," said Robertson, who still works at the center and has known Yowell for 30 years.

"He gets to choose what time he wants to get up, where he wants to go and when, what he wants to eat and when. He was on a 2,500-calorie diet, and now he gets some cheat foods."

Robertson said Yowell had to follow policies and procedures set out for him at CVTC.

"We're trying to move away from that type of model and help the individuals become more independent," he said. "We're trying to get them more integrated into the community and make the community more aware of them."

Patty Robertson, who worked at the training center as a medication aide until a few years ago when Yowell moved in, said the individuals at the center get the best care but don't get to make as many choices because of the number of people served.

"When they're not living in a facility ? simple things suchas not getting fluids enough or the choice to just drink or eat whenever they feel they need, and not because the facility is a bad place, it's just built on schedules," she said. "You can't individualize all those people. This is all about Lewis and what is important to him and what's good for him."

Maria Reppas, communications director with the Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services, said as of Nov. 13, there were 127 individuals still living at CVTC.

The oldest is a 91-year-old woman who doesn't want to leave because she knows everyone there, Tim Robertson said.

"It's scary for them to leave," Patty Robertson said. "That's what they know. It's hard for not only the individuals but for the employees also. We were close with each other."

The Southeastern Virginia Training Center is the only state facility slated to remain open following thesettlement agreement that set in motion the closure of all other training centers, which provide residential care for people with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. Out of five regional training centers in the state, two have closed and the Southwestern Regional Training Center in Hillsville is set to close next year.

CVTC, the largest state training center, has discharged patients and reduced staff in line with plans from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. According to department data, CVTC had 144 residents as of late June, a 67 percent reduction from its 2011 population. Of those residents, 58 weren't considering other housing options as of late June. Others have identified homes to live in or are considering housing options, some with the help of community integration staff.

Reppas said discharges from CVTC happen as individuals get placed in area homes.

Roanoke-basedDePaul Community Resources coordinated the sponsored residential program with the Robertsons and Yowell and say it has been a big help, but there is a need for more providers.

Currently in Lynchburg, DePaul serves about 25 individuals with developmental disabilities. It also has two-day support centers in Madison Heights and in Forest, which serve individuals with developmental disabilities during the day.

Jamie Snead, vice president of advocacy for DePaul, said the sponsored residential program is similar to foster care in some waysbut very different in others.

"It's home-based like foster care, the care providers are paid to open their home, they are expected to go through extensive training, and their home must meet certain requirements," she said. "It's a lot to go through, so trust me when I tell you, if folks are doing it for the money, they won't last long. The financial piece is very small compared to what is required. People have to do this because their heart is in it, not because of the money."

Ryan Long, sponsored residential manger for DePaul, said the state has an assessment tool that it uses to determine the level of support a person needs.

Based on that assessment, there are four tiers of payment a family receives from DePaul, measured by day-to-day needs and medical and behavioral factors, she said.

Snead said DePaul found that many of the children with intellectual disabilities served in traditional foster care would age out of that care and their only option was the training center.

"Some of them thrived in the community," she said. "DePaul decided to start the sponsored residential provider program due to that."

The program began in 1991. As of Nov. 17, there were 48 individuals placed in sponsored residential homes in the state, according to Reppas.

From CTVC specifically, 17 individuals have been placed in this type of placement.

There have been 25 placed from the Southwest Virginia Training Center in Hillsville, three placed from the Northern Virginia Training Center in Fairfax, three from the Southside Virginia Training Center in Petersburg, and none from the Southeastern Virginia Training Center in Chesapeake.

According to Rebecca Drinkard, regional manager at Lutheran Family Services of Virginia, as of Nov. 17 there are 45 individuals placed in sponsored residential homes in the Lynchburg, Bedford, Campbell, Appomattox and Amherst areas from Lutheran.

She said six of those individuals formerly resided at CVTC.

There are three other locations licensed but not serving any individuals and two more pending.

These homes are licensed as a group home even if they only have one individual living there, such as the Robertson's situation with Lewis.

There are strict guidelines to become a sponsored residential provider with DePaul, Snead said, including background checks, financial stability and standards to meet within the home.

On the back of Yowell's door is a list of his rights within the home, which include the rights to receive and make phone calls, get good food, have home visitors and privacy, send and receive mail and practice religion.

At the training center Yowell did have his own room with a refrigerator, bed and television but at one point he had a shared room. At the Robertson's home, he has his own room, bed, television, lounge chair, closet and several framed photos of fire trucks on the wall - Lewis' passion. He also has his own phone, social group and dog named Molly.

Though now retired, Yowell once worked at Lynchburg Sheltered Industries, where he began in 1993; he unstuffed junk mail to be shredded and separated stamped envelopes that were unused.

About 15 years ago, Tim Robertson, who formerly served as Yowell's qualified medical professional, began taking him on outings on the weekends to go to events like football games.

Patty Robertson said at the time he was living in the training center, Yowell had an interest in knowing what was happening outside of the facility and wanted to be involved with other people.

"When I first started taking Lewis out on trips into the community around 2006 we used to get looks because the community wasn't ready for intellectually disabled people," Tim Robertson said.

Yowell's brother and authorized representative, Bill Yowell, who lives in Culpeper, said he is thankful for the Robertsons and their love for his brother.

"I wish I had made this move for him a lot sooner," he said.

Yowell has his own savings and checking account and manages his money - something Patty Robertson said he is very proud of but she sometimes sees how people don't recognize that.

"It's frustrating when outsiders don't understand," she said. "People get frustrated at the cash register because Lewis wants to participate in spending his own money, and they're like, 'How long is this going to take?' They don't say it but you can see it on their face. I say, 'I'm sorry this is taking so long, but thank you for being patient; this is important to him.' "

At the training center, Tim Robertson said staff members are working with the individuals on preparing for community integration by teaching them money management and taking them to places like the grocery store and barber shops.

Tim Robertson said this is important so the community can be more exposed to the individuals and both parties can be introduced to one another.

"I think it's a good thing they're being more integrated," he said. "Ask me a few years ago and I would have said no, but now I see the benefit that the individuals have when they leave. I see growth. I personally think everyone should have that opportunity to live that normal life as everyone else does."

The Robertsons say Lewis has a better quality of life now.

"It's a complete turnaround," Patty Robertson said. "He seems free. If he chooses to do something, he can do it; he doesn't have to wait for an outing offered. Lewis loves to swim in the pool; no one ever knew that. He has experienced swimming in the ocean and fishing on the pier."

Yowell is simply a part of their family now. He goes on trips with the Robertsons, and the things that are important to him, such as fire trucks, also are important to the Robertsons.

"The thing I love about intellectually disabled people is that it's the smallest things that make them so happy," Tim Robertson said. "It would take something monetary to make most people happy, but for Lewis, just to drive past the fire station and have the firemen come out and wave to him and talk to him, it puts the biggest smile on his face. He is on cloud nine for days."

Five months ago, Yowell was diagnosed with stage four kidney disease, and since a bone marrow transfer is too invasive, the Robertsons as well as Bill Yowell decided not to go forward with surgery.

He also has high potassium levels and severe osteoporosis, putting him at high risk of breaking a bone. Gwen Parr, Lewis' resource coordinator from DePaul, said Yowell sees several specialists.

"Lewis is a wonderful individual," Parr said. "Every time I see him, he's got a twinkle in his eyes, a smile on his face, he's a joy to work with. I could go on and on about him. I feel that I'm blessed to know him and to work with him."

Parr sees Yowell in his home at least once a month and has worked with him for about three years.

"Everything revolves around Lewis. He's got a nice home setting, his room is set up around his needs, his likes and wants," she said. "[The Robertsons] are super people, they're family, they don't look at him as being an individual placed in their home."

The commitment to Yowell is a lifetime one for the Robertsons.

"You need to be in it to finish it or don't get in it at all," Tim Robertson said. "If Lewis were my father, why would I put him in a nursing home or hospital when I can take care of him here?"

At any point, a sponsored residential provider can give DePaul a 30-day notice to terminate a contract, but the organization emphasized that it looks for committed families. Snead said it is very rare for a provider to give a 30-day notice. DePaul also can give notice to the providers, which is rare as well, but it can happen if DePaul deems the home to no longer offer the level of quality care required.

"If someone said, 'I just want to do this for a couple of years before I retire,' we would say, 'Thanks, but we're not interested,' " Snead said. "We are looking for someone making a 10-, 15-, 20-year commitment."

The Robertsons recommend families who are willing to change things in their life.

"It's not based around your life anymore, it's based around his life," Tim Robertson said. "It's very hard because Lewis and I used to go fishing and bowling, we would just pick up and leave, but as people get older those things change. It's fun and exciting in the beginning, but you have to remember you're getting older and they are, too. Medical issues start taking place, and that takes a toll on the relationship. We have seen him deteriorate as he gets older. It's a function we all must go through."

The couple says they have gotten so much more back from Yowell than he has given them.

"He has taught me patience and how to not be in such a hurry," Tim Robertson said. "He has taught me how to love unconditionally. Lewis is one to say thank you to everything. We forget to say 'hi' and to speak to people, and he always does. He has reconditioned me to think the way I should."

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