The purpose of the Assisted Living and Independent Living Programs at Harmony House Health Care Center – Danbury Circle, is to provide a continuum of training services for individuals who have sustained a brain injury.  The program is a continuation of skill development and self-confidence building that increases the individual’s internal responsibility and control over their life. 
   The program focus is on-going training of purposeful independent living skills (ILS) in a supportive environment.  By virtue of the program design, the individual transitions to taking on more responsibility for structuring their own life, and making improved decisions about their life, as a function of being able to practice decision making more independently.   Independent Living Skills are inclusive of self-care hygiene activities, clothing management, domestic skill responsibilities of private and common living areas, financial management, medication management, nutritional planning, meal preparation and associated safety in the kitchen, chore responsibility, purposeful community access, rhythm of life training specific to their own life cycle, and social skill training.  

   The Assisted Living Program at Harmony House Health Care Center – Danbury Circle begins in a Transition Apartment House.  A Transition Apartment House is a 4-plex that provides individuals with their own apartment living space.  Each apartment includes a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and large storage/walk-in closet.  The individual learns to take pride in maintaining their assigned apartment, and the associated domestic chores that go with having one’s own living space.  There is a common kitchen/dining room that will allow for the individual to increase their responsibility for kitchen safety, meal planning, food purchase and storage, meal preparation, clean-up following meals, social skill interactions, and mentoring relationships.  There are also laundry facilities located adjacent to the commons area, where individuals will be given the opportunity to learn proper clothing care and scheduling of use.  Movement through the Transition Apartment House will allow for the individual to maximize on their independent growth and responsibility, while continually reducing dependence on staff support. 

     *Success at this level leads to movement to Independent Living in a safe and monitored environment.

   The Independent Living Program at Harmony House Health Care Center – Danbury Circle allows the individual to live as independently as possible, and still have access to whatever supports they need, to the level they need.  This level of care is a safe, supportive and monitored environment.  The Independent Living Apartment House is a 4-plex that provides individuals with their own apartment living space.  Each apartment includes a living room, bedroom, bathroom, large storage/walk-in closet, and now we have added their own kitchen/dining area.

  The individual may need periodic supervisory support in planning time frames, executing community access, and medication management.  The program is one of supports designed as intensely as needed in the beginning, with an emphasis on reduction of the supports, as the individual has the opportunity to practice successful life skills and decision-making.

 *Success at this level can lead to movement into Supported Community Living or Independent Living in the community.   Coordination for this level could involve other providers of service in the community, or coordination and application with other subsidized housing providers.