Living alone can often be challenging for adults with intellectual disabilities. It is often difficult to balance the desire for independence while still meeting support needs – and keeping in mind a very real risk of social isolation.
With support from the European Social Fund (ESF), a project team has worked to provide the perfect solution for five people with intellectual disabilities: a home where people in similar situations can meet and make friends – while accessing personalised assistance to live as independently as possible.
The ‘independent home for people with intellectual disabilities’ project helped Dimitris to gain newfound independence. ‘[It] gave me the opportunity […] to choose how I want to live my life and what activities to do,’ he explains.
Dimitris’ experience is echoed by housemates like Maria who enjoyed her newfound autonomy: ‘I have my own room. I have many stuffed toys that I really like. I have several kittens that I love to take care of and play with.’
The home provides personalised programmes based on each resident’s needs and preferences. They can socialise with their fellow housemates, engage in a variety of leisure activities including excursions and trips, and take part in counselling and training sessions. Savvas reflects on his experience at the house: ‘Here I can take care of my own parrots, ride horses and enjoy personal speech therapy – where I learned to write my name!’
The home is a safe heaven for people with intellectual disabilities, allowing them to gain confidence and enjoy their lives, as Petros highlights: ‘I have the opportunity to go on frequent walks and excursions which I really like. I feel safe at home’.
The ESF-funded project has taken an important step in demonstrating how people with intellectual disabilities can – with the right support – lead independent and fulfilling lives.
Project details
- Project name
- The Independent living home for persons with intellectual disabilities at Archangelos Nicosia
- Countries
- Cyprus
- Organisation
- Department of Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities
- Participants
- 5 people with intellectual disabilities
- Project start
- 2021
- Project end
- 2027
- Contact details
- Ms. Vasiliki Fragkaki, Senior Officer at the Department of Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities
vfragkaki@dsid.mlsi.gov.cy - EU Budget contribution
- EUR 20 000 000