Specialized Home Care

Maximizing the potential and enhancing the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities through shared living for more than 30 years, serving all of Western Massachusetts and northern Worcester County with offices in Pittsfield and Springfield.

Specialized Home Care is a pioneer.  In 1974, Specialized Home Care created the model for shared living used generally today out of a firmly held belief that individuals thrive in homelike settings within the strong personal relationships of a home life.  Through Specialized Home Care individuals with developmental disabilities benefit from strong, lasting, meaningful relationships with a family and strong involvement in the community.

The people we are privileged to serve are of all ages and abilities.  Although they all have some degree of mental retardation, many have additional behavioral or learning impairments.  They may have severe medical involvements or physical disabilities, or they may function with little or no assistance.  Our highly skilled staff have both considerable expertise in addressing these issues and access to a pool of clinical and behavioral consultants.  And we select and train our in-home care providers very carefully.

Pioneered by Specialized Home Care, shared living is a program that matches individuals with developmental disabilities with families in the community so that they can develop and grow in the privacy and dignity of a natural living situation and experience the normal activities of family life and community life.

Shared living enriches the lives of all who are involved.  The potential of individuals with developmental disabilities is maximized when they are able to live in private homes, where they develop lasting meaningful relationships and learn to be as independent and as integrated into the community as possible.

Individuals and care providers make a good match.  The matching process is individual –centered and if a caregiver with qualities compatible with the needs and personality of the individual is not available, a specific recruitment effort is made. 

Care providers care for individuals with developmental disabilities either in their own homes or in the home of the individual.  Prior to beginning to provide services, they receive six weeks of training based upon national standards.  This training helps them to understand the importance of community integration, the history of developmental disabilities, working as a team, and their role in establishing a successful relationship.

Lives are enriched through Shared Living.  Making and maintaining relationships within a family and within the community is the essence of shared living.  In a private home with committed care providers, individuals benefit from highly individualized, flexible assistance.  Expanded opportunities increase their self-confidence and independence.  And just as the individuals served learn, develop skills, and enjoy personal growth within lasting, meaningful relationships, so do their care providers.

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