A new group home operated by Estevan Diversified Services (EDS) is providing an improved living situation for people with disabilities.
A grand opening celebration was held at the group home on Friday morning. Dignitaries and EDS representatives delivered speeches. Other highlights included a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours of the home, located in south-central Estevan.
Three of the four residents – Paulette Bugler, Deborah Davorick and Laura Newstead – used to live at the now closed Valley View Centre in Moose Jaw. The other resident is Lee Moore of Estevan.
EDS program co-ordinator Roberta DeRosier said the new group home gives residents a place to call their home.
The three women who used to live at Valley View are all in their 60s or 70s and moved to Valley View when they were children. They spent most of their lives in that centre.
“The facility was built in 1955, and had space for 1,500 residents,” said DeRosier. “At the time, it was a state of the art facility for people with disabilities. The facility itself was absolutely amazing. It was a massive cluster of buildings that housed every service imaginable.”
Residents had access to plenty of amenities, but DeRosier said they didn’t receive the level of care needed, due to the sheer number of people.
“Services were limited to basic needs. There was little or no choice for individuals. They slept in rows of beds lined up in large areas, and they owned nothing that they could call their own. By today’s standards, the treatment that they received would be considered inhumane.”
The provincial government announced in 2012 that Valley View would be closing.
“After spending more than six decades in an institution, the ladies you see here today can say they finally have a home,” said DeRosier. “They have their own space, their own bedrooms, their own belongings and staff will respect their individual choices and preferences.”
As for Moore, he was raised by a loving family and eventually moved into a group home that he enjoyed. But his future in that home was not guaranteed due to his unique physical needs.
“Here in his new home, he is secure in knowing all of his physical needs will be met, as his physical needs change over time,” said DeRosier.
DeRosier noted the residents moved into the Estevan group home late last year. It’s been a great experience for them.
Prior to being a group home, the building was a residence for a local senior citizen. The Saskatchewan Housing Authority took care of the renovations to meet the needs of the four residents.
EDS has five group homes, DeRosier said, as well as an independent living and semi-independent living program. The agency tries to make sure the homes fit their residents.
Estevan MLA Lori Carr, who is the minister of Government Relations and other posts, was speaking on behalf of Social Services Minister Paul Merriman at the grand opening. She was pleased to see the home repurposed in this fashion. She commended EDS for their work on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities.
“It’s important that we work with community partners to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities have the necessary supports to be included in their communities, and I truly believe that this house is going to be able to do that for all of the new residents that are moving in,” said Carr.
City Councillor Dennis Moore, speaking on behalf of Mayor Roy Ludwig, called it a fine facility that looks great.
“This facility will be around for a long time, and it will be looking after some very favourable people in our city,” he said.
Trisha Salmers, who is the acting executive director of EDS, was the MC for the opening. She thanked the residents of the group home for opening up the building to other people, who were there to celebrate with them.
Board members and employees from EDS were also on hand for the day.
