I recently visited with a business manager for Community Alternatives Missouri (CAMO). This agency is a part of the larger for profit Rescare, Inc., and operates four sites under the CAMO umbrella in Missouri (Jefferson City, St. Louis, Hannibal, and Sedalia).
CAMO St. Louis offers two primary services. One is their day program that provides interactive and educational activities and projects for individuals who need training in basic life skills to assist them in reaching their full potential. The other service is supported living. This program has two primary modes of delivery: one is ISLA (Independent Supported Living). In this program, individuals receive a limited number of support hours each week, typically between two and eight hours during which they receive assistance in such areas as shopping, transportation, bill paying and socialization.
The other types of homes are a 24/7 home in which the members of the home receive care 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Although some organizations that provide 24/7 care for the developmentally disabled and allows staff members to sleep when the consumers are asleep (as long as they are not a danger to themselves or others). However, CAMO does not allow any sleep shifts. All are awake. Consumers receiving this type of care receive varying levels of assistance. All levels of assistance are geared toward allowing the consumer the highest level of independence possible.
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