Misericordia believes that all people disabled or not should have the opportunity to be meaningful members of their community every day. Each resident at Misericordia works closely w/ support staff to develop an annual plan to reach individual goals. There are many elements integral to leading a happy & fulfilling life, & Misericordia is dedicated to addressing all of these in each resident’s personal plan.
In Illinois, children w/ developmental disabilities are supported through both inclusive & special educational settings, depending on their needs. Thankfully, most students thrive in elementary & high school, enjoying their time in the classroom & extra-curricular activities & building friendships w/ their fellow students. Illinoisans w/ developmental disabilities can attend school until the age of 22. Unfortunately, it is at this age when many people w/ disabilities see a dramatic drop in programmatic support.
Since offering services for adults in the late 1970s, Misericordia has created & refined programs focused on job & independent living skills. Each adult, along w/ their parent/guardian, meets w/ support staff to determine the best match between their interests & program opportunities.
Misericordia is different from many organizations in the field in that we support adults w/ severe & profound developmental disabilities, meaning most are between three months & three years of age on a cognitive level. In fact, approximately 60% of Misericordia’s clients have severe & profound disabilities. Therefore, Misericordia has developed numerous opportunities to meet each person’s needs, from an adult w/ profound disabilities who works on eye contact in the on-campus puppetry workshop to someone who thrives in an independent setting in the community at-large. As described below, every individual at Misericordia is engaged in appropriate combinations of education, employment, therapy, & recreational activities.
Self-Help Worksho
For adults w/ severe & profound developmental disabilities (mental capability of 2-36 months of age), Misericordia has developed self-help programs to support the highest quality of life possible. Basic functions that most of society takes for granted, such as hand washing & making eye contact, are key goals for these participants.
Education
As schools become more sophisticated in helping children w/ special needs, earning a high school diploma is an attainable goal for many of Misericordia’s residents. Illinois citizens w/ developmental disabilities are able to attend high school until the age of 22, & the extra time provides an excellent opportunity to learn more & prepare for life as an adult. Misericordia collaborates w/ school districts within a 20-mile radius for placement of students, ensuring an equal balance of students w/ & without disabilities at each school. When a young adult moves to Misericordia & would like to continue education at a local high school, Misericordia strives to accommodate that wish. Some of the McAuley Resident’s, all of whom have significant medical issues in addition to mental disabilities, attend the on-campus school because of the risk of infection on buses or in larger classrooms. Curriculum is geared toward their individual needs & educational objectives. The McAuley School is certified/approved by the Illinois Board of Education.
Nutrition & Fitness
As awareness of the detrimental effects of obesity & poor nutrition continues to rise, Misericordia has strengthened its commitment to assessing the individual health & fitness needs of each resident through its Healthy Eating-Healthy Living program. Full-time staff in Misericordia’s Moore Aquatic & Fitness Center manages the program, which focuses on the importance of good eating & exercise. The center offers a 65,000-gallon pool designed for people w/ disabilities & a large cardio & weights room. Individuals w/ severe & profound disabilities have a very different set of needs, as they are often reliant on tube-fed meals that limit what types of food they can eat. Registered nurses & dieticians work diligently to ensure that sufficient nutrients are a staple of these residents’ everyday diets.
Spiritual Life
Residents come from diverse religious backgrounds, & Misericordia is dedicated to respecting & supporting each person’s beliefs. Those w/ Catholic & Jewish backgrounds are able to attend weekly on-campus services, & Misericordia encourages all residents to be involved w/ organizations of faith in the larger community. Misericordia also offers numerous non-denominational opportunities for quiet reflection.
Social & Recreational Activities
After a busy day of busing tables at the Greenhouse Inn Restaurant, Misericordia’s residents deserve fun & relaxing activities in their free time. Family members & staff frequently join residents at interesting events & on trips to exciting places in Chicago & beyond. A small sample of recent outings includes concerts by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, art exhibits at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Fire soccer, Bulls basketball & White Sox baseball games, the Winnetka Children’s Fair, & musicals at the Latin School of Chicago. In addition, Misericordia residents’ own performing groups, the dancing Heartbreakers & singing-and-signing Heartzingers, appear at the Irish American Heritage Fest & Taste of Chicago.
Health & Therapy
Like people without disabilities, each child & adult at Misericordia has unique medical and, quite often, therapeutic needs. Misericordia works diligently to ensure that specialized care is provided for each person to promote good health & well-being.
Residential Services
Misericordia's residential services provide a wide range of choices for individuals to thrive in an environment that allows them to live as independently as possible. Each residential option is supported & connected through Misericordia's campus, where a comprehensive network of services & opportunities are provided. Misericordia provides residential options both on campus & in the community.
Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA)
Is a residential choice located in the nearby community for adults w/ developmental disabilities (individuals over 18 years of age). Misericordia's CILA Homes provide live-in & support staff. All of Misericordia’s CILA homes are located within close proximity to the campus so CILA residents have access to all of the services & social activities on campus. The adults who live in the CILAs primarily function in the mild to moderate range of disability, are ambulatory & do not require 24 hour nursing care.
Brian O. Shannon Apartment Building
Located on campus, provides apartment style living for individuals over 18 years of age. Residents live within their own apartment along w/ their roommates & Misericordia staff is available to provide guidance, supervision, training & other assistance. The residents who live in the apartments primarily function in the moderate range of disability, are ambulatory, have the ability to initiate activities & do not require 24 hour nursing care.
Heart of Mercy Village
Consists of nine single-family homes located on campus that provide staff support & supervision 24 hours a day. The residents tend to be younger & are all ambulatory though some may use a walker for long distances. Placement in the Village homes requires that the residents do not need 24 hour nursing care. Support services focus on self-help skills, socialization & activities of daily living.
Mercy Glen
Is comprised of four individual residences each of which is home to 12 adults w/ moderate developmental disabilities. The adults are involved daily in the Heart of Mercy Work Opportunity Program or job sites in the community.
McGowan Home
Is a residence focused on the needs of non-ambulatory adults. Wide, push-button doorways, electric wheelchair ports, physical therapy/positioning areas & adaptive equipment are features that help individuals achieve independence in their daily lives. Although physically dependent on staff for daily care, the residents of McGowan have no problem using computers & communication devices to let their families & friends in on the news of the day. Misericordia staff (and nursing care is available to pass medications or as needed for medical issues) is present 24 hours. Residents of the McGowan Home primarily function in the mild to moderate cognitive range, & are non-ambulatory.
The Marian Center
Is a two-story building located on Misericordia’a campus comprised of ten apartments conjoined by a beautiful atrium which provides an element of outdoors even when the weather is inclement. The adults who live in the Marian Center primarily function in the severe to profound range of disabilities & need more supervision, nursing & physical care.
Mother Catherine McAuley Residence
Is a skilled-nursing facility where individuals who are non-ambulatory & have severe & profound disabilities benefit from skilled nursing care & special programs. All of them are challenged to reach their full potential. Misericordia Home provides services to children & adults w/ disabilities ranging from mild-moderate to severe & profound.
Holbrook Residence
Provides services to 25 adults who are non-ambulatory & 26 adults who are approaching their senior years enjoy lives of challenge & dignity.
Rosemary Residence is home to 13 non-ambulatory children.