Deciding What Type Housing is Right for Your Young Adult

A parent’s worst nightmare is not having a plan set in stone for their child if anything were to happen to them. For parents or caregivers of children, teens, or adults with autism they may be especially concerned for what happens to their child if or when they pass.

Don’t panic, there are various options for your child. The process can be an intimidating one, but once you start figuring out what types of living arrangements would help your child have the most positive experience, it starts to develop into more hopeful planning. 

Types of housing:

• Group Homes
  Community based housing with supported staff there to help. Staff are there to help guide independence and foster a healthy lifestyle out in the community. Individuals are able to have their independence away from their families but also feel like they are in a community with others that support them. 

• Care Facilities or Centers
  Large care facility centers with staff that are catered to taking care of the individual’s needs. This works well for those that need full time support. However, there is not an individualized person that would solely be taking care of your child. It would be the staff that is on call. 

• Supervised Living
  Similar to a group home, there is support. The staff is there to supervise and help out when needed. This fosters a higher level of independence for individuals. 

• Independent Living
  There is always the option for individuals on the autism spectrum to live entirely on their own. Here, your child is completely independent and they do not need any assistance, they are capable of doing everything independently. 

Although these options sound promising it can still be stressful to find the right fit for your child. A larger, more detailed list of housing options can be found here on our website. There are many individuals and families that have found the right fit for the child. These parents feel at ease, as they have found the right fit and feel comfortable having their children placed in different types of living arrangements. 

For assistance or guidance in finding the perfect fit for your loved one and are unsure where to start, please contact us through the Autism Help Hotline.