Christmas will come early in December for six residents at St. Brendan's Hospital when they move into a Project 100 group residential home early next month.

A year ago the charity purchased a home in Pembroke, thanks to the financial support of the business and private sector. Recently a second home was bought in Southampton and once renovations are completed to make it wheelchair accessible, the Island's latest group home will be up and running.

It is estimated there are still 41 disabled persons living in St. Brendan's who qualify for residency at a supervised group home.

Achieving that is the aim of Project 100, a charity formed 17 years ago with the mission of raising the awareness of the needs of the Island's learning disabled.

"Project 100 is committed to providing for an additional group home at least every three years, however in order to meet the needs of the learning disabled population, a new home is required each year for at least the next ten years," Project 100 president Judy Panchaud White wrote in the charity's recent newsletter.

It was also noted that there are at least 130 learning disabled adults currently living in their own home environment with ageing parents or caregivers. What happens when one of these 130-odd persons lose their caregiver is an issue Project 100 is already trying to address.

"These persons should be able to be accommodated at group residential homes, however sufficient group residential homes do not exist," said Mrs. Panchaud White.

The opening of the second home is progress in the right direction, something even officials at St. Brendan's recognise is long overdue.

"If we had a choice where we would want to spend the rest of our lives, in an institution or a home, most of us would say a home, and there is no reason why the clients wouldn't want to choose the same thing," said Preston Swan, community clinical coordinator at St. Brendan's.

"What we've seen over the years is the clients' self-esteem level has risen, (we have) seen them be more independent in certain tasks, generally be more happy and integrated in community functions and be more visible by living in different surroundings.

"Some of the behaviour we used to see we don't see anymore, just because of being in a smaller, more homely, normal environment which is where most of our clients should be. That's the long term goal, that all of our clients be in homes."

Presently there are 26 clients housed in such homes in various parts of the Island, though five of those homes are rented at considerable expense to Government.

Most of the homes have four clients, but the two homes that have been purchased will cater to six clients. The numbers are kept small to allow for a higher ratio of staff-client, said Rosetta Walwyn, clinical coordinator for In-patient Programme at St. Brendan's.

"Ideally it would better to have all our clients in the community, but that depends on the funding that is made available to us for these homes," explained Mrs. Walwyn. She explained that the number of clients in each home are kept small so as not to "create an institution away from the institution".

Many of those clients living in group homes have been in St. Brendan's most of their lives, but the need to have them function is as normal an environment as possible has been recognised.

"Those people with learning disabilities are not mentally ill," stressed Mike Murray, programme manager for the Learning Disability Programme at St. Brendan's.

"The fact that they were placed in hospital in the first place is, in some ways, an error. Moving them back into the community is the right thing.

"There are two classifications, people who are educationally learning disabled and who function quite well in the community with minimum support. Some of them get married and live quite well, but the ones we have in this programme are low function clients who need support from staff throughout their lives.

"However, we do try to bring their skills up to its maximum, so whatever potential is there to be developed, we try to develop that. But they need 24-hour support." The residents in the homes are taught skills and have chores around the house. Some even manage to have part-time jobs like packing groceries.

"If we were to depend on just Government we would still be waiting for at least 12 clients to be housed," said Mr. Murray.

"Project 100 came on board three years ago and we're grateful to them that they have provided two houses in a year."

Mrs. Walwyn added: "We will be most grateful to Project 100 or anybody who is willing to donate or help us in any way."

Mr. Swan has another idea: "We touched on the ageing caregivers, and there is no reason why we can't explore the option of the home being willed and put in a trust for their client and others. Project 100 is doing their part but there are other agencies that can contribute to this." Mr. Murray said renting of group homes has the obvious disadvantages, such as not being able to make changes to the facility without the landlord's permission. With the second group home it was necessary to change a bathroom to make it wheelchair friendly.

"The whole idea with the clients is to treat them as normally as possible," said Mr. Murray. "The same conditions you have in your home is the same conditions they should have. They should have vacations as we do and we try to make sure they have a vacation every year, whether it is on the Island or off the Island.

"In the homes they do chores, make their own beds and assist with making breakfast and the other meals. We do not allow them to use sharp knives."

Mr. Murray also urged the corporate sector to employ the residents in certain jobs.

The first community home was opened in 1991 on the St. Brendan's property. The second home opened in 1993.

"Before we got the agreement from Government we had Keeper's Cottage on-site as a training ground to try it out," explained Mr. Swan.

"We moved four clients there and they were there for two years and it seemed to be a success. We put it to Government who said yes and gave us the funding for our first home in 1993.

"These clients are still out there and living a very positive lifestyle."

Mr. Murray pointed out the concept, while just about ten years old in Bermuda, is nothing new and has been used with success in United States, Canada and England.

"We have learned from some mistakes they have made," he said.

"In terms of where we are, we are behind. America, Canada and Britain have almost 70 percent of their clients living in the community.

"It is tried and proven and is the way to go. The first country to try it was Scandinavia and is more or less the brainchild for this concept.

"Mainstreaming them is a good thing that our Government has done. When you see them at St. Brendan's you see them as different, but the whole idea is to make them feel equal. They should be treated as such."

Mr. Murray added: "Interestingly, one of the clients of this house was in a locked unit for years, he moved to this home and the adjustment is tremendous.

"He does not wish to return to St. Brendan's and he will tell you he wants no part of St. Brendan's."

Some members of Project 100 were able to spend part of last Christmas at the first group home. They saw the residents there get excited about their first Christmas in that setting.

"It was so rewarding and to me it was the most emotional part of last Christmas," said Mrs. Panchaud White.

"Unfortunately your own children can take Christmas gift giving for granted and here it brought back what the true spirit of Christmas is all about. To see Delvin with his pile of gifts under the tree it was just priceless."