By Martha A. Churchill

You can’t tell from the street that Westlyn House is any different from the other fine residential homes in this Lake Orion subdivision. We drove right past it, in fact. I was looking for wheelchair ramps or other tell-tale signs of a group home for multiply-impaired, developmentally disabled adults.

But nothing on the outside of the house gives any hint that the five residents have severe respiratory problems, need to be fed through a tube, can’t talk, can’t see, and experience frequent seizures. These are the DD adults who are most difficult to place "in the community" due to serious medical issues. 

These are the type of folks who once lived in nursing homes or other institutions.

With round-the-clock nursing care at Westlyn House, this is like transplanting a nursing home into a residential setting. The medical equipment is kept low-key. Residents and visitors at Westlyn House are not subjected to that hospital-like atmosphere and urine smell so common to larger nursing homes. Hallways are so wide, two beds could pass each other with ease.

Small respirators are tucked unobtrusively into bookcases near their beds. Homey quilts adorn the beds, with lots of pictures, artwork, and other personal belongings to make Westlyn House truly a home rather than an institution. Even so, the house was built by MORC in the late 1980’s with medical needs in mind. The cavernous bathroom features a roll-in bed, vinyl covered, so that residents can experience a full shower while laying down.

Only one of the residents I saw there was able to communicate with words, and that individual had dementia. Staff at Westlyn House are careful to watch the person’s reaction, trying to figure out what the individual likes or dislikes. For recreation, they go someplace that offers physical stimulation, such as a swing or a water bed. The staff occasionally bring in a small dog or a cat.

I had the pleasure of visiting Westlyn House in mid-August, 2000, at the invitation of a Mom. This particular Mom is caring for a severely multiply-impaired adult at home, and is wondering what the alternatives may be. In Washtenaw County, nothing is available, either as a residence or even for respite. The Ann Arbor area, as "progressive" as it is, currently provides nothing for the most severely disabled DD adults, so we went north of Pontiac searching for a way to house these individuals in comfort and safety.

The Oakland-Macomb area has a long history of providing residential settings for DD adults, so it is not surprising that Westlyn House was the brainchild of MORC (Macomb Oakland Regional Center). MORC also has established a "pooled" special needs trust, at Spring Hill, which I have already written about.

Westlyn House takes people as young as 18 years old, and sometimes in their 60’s. Three generous bedrooms and a spacious living area make this a comfortable place not only for the residents, but for the staff, who say the atmosphere is an extremely pleasant work environment. One of the residents came to Westlyn House from an institution in Mt. Pleasant, and his medical condition has actually improved-- he is off his tracheotomy tube, and can now breathe the regular way.

The Mom and I were part of a small delegation from Washtenaw County, including a CMH nurse, supports coordinator, and a social worker from FIA (Family Independence Agency). "CMH" means Community Mental Health. Westlyn House is used to having visitors. They get visitors from Croatia, Australia, England, and all over the world. Some of the residents have visitors, too; family members, guardians, or friends, all of whom can stop in anytime of the day or night to say hello.

Being only 15 miles from Crittenton Hospital, Westlyn House is a good place for someone who might have a medical emergency. An LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) is on duty 24 hours a day, at the house, and an RN (Registered Nurse) is available anytime by phone. A van is available to take people to their doctor’s appointments; these residents have specialists with offices scattered all over southeastern Michigan.

Because it is a licensed group home, Westlyn House conducts three fire drills every month, one for each of the three shifts. None of the residents weighs over 130 pounds, so it is relatively easy for the staff to lift the people and get them out of the house in a hurry.

It costs $280 per day for each person to stay there.  That is somewhat less than a good nursing home, which could cost roughly $250-$350 per day.  

How is this paid for?  All five of the residents have Medicaid, and two also have Medicare. The group home license allows up to six residents, but they prefer to have no more than five due to the amount of medical equipment needed for each person. Technically, Westlyn House is licensed as an AFC home (Adult Foster Care). In order to qualify, residents must agree that they do not require 24-hour skilled nursing care. Even so, it is okay for Westlyn House to provide 24-hour LPN care "for assessment."

Another limitation: Westlyn House cannot accept someone who needs oxygen at all times. If someone requires oxygen off-and-on for short terms, though, that is okay at Westlyn House.

As far as I could tell, the cost of Westlyn House comes from various state and federal funds. The parents are NOT required to help pay for their son or daughter’s expenses.

During a typical day, residents get out of bed at 9 or 10 a.m. If someone is going to a workshop or school, he or she gets up at 7. The living area of the house was friendly, open, and well-lit with large windows during my visit. I noticed that residents were placed in a variety of positions through the use of foam props and other devices. People were not just left in beds or wheelchairs for long periods of time.

During our visit, someone asked if they could fill another Westlyn House if the same home was duplicated elsewhere. We were told that there is a "huge need" for this type of residence. Apparently large numbers of families and consumers would like to find a placement at Westlyn House, but there isn’t room for everyone who would like to live there.