The public is invited to attend a ribbon cutting for the Indian River Intermediate Care Facility for persons with Intellectual Disabilities at 2525 Lifetime Circle, off Indian River Road near Stumpy Lake, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29. Please RSVP to (757) 385-0602 or cbuckler@vbgov.com before Jan. 21. Onsite parking is limited. Shuttle service will be provided from Victory Baptist Church, 4125 Indian River Road, beginning at 9:15 a.m.
The new facility includes two five-bedroom single-floor buildings built to meet the needs of medically-fragile individuals in a comfortable, homelike environment. Up to 10 individuals can live in these homes, where they will receive support in a caring environment and may eventually be able to move to smaller community homes that can be more tailored to their specific needs and desires. The facility will be staffed 24/7 and will employ 31 professional and direct-service staff.
These homes were built as part of the General Assembly decision to downsize Southeastern Virginia Training Center from 150 to 75 beds. Area community service boards partnered with the state to provide new community homes for those transitioning from the training center and for others on waiting lists for community-based residential services.
The process of considering choices for the future is not an easy one. The primary goals for every individual with intellectual disability who lives in one of these homes is that they are safe and well cared for, have plans to meet all of their medical needs and that they have every opportunity for fulfillment, today and in the future. The many partners who collaborated over the past three and a half years to make this happen include family members, residents, advocates, community service board employees, training center staff, and state and local government representatives, including administrators, attorneys and staff of many legislative committees.
Virginia Beach began developing the capacity to serve medically fragile individuals with intellectual disabilities in 2002. The Developmental Services Division of the Human Services Department operates five homes serving 37 individuals. With the opening of the Indian River facility, the city will have seven homes and the ability to serve 47 citizens.
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