Skip to content

Additional heartfelt Foothills AIM Society homes needed

Non-profit agency looking for home-and-care support workers
NEWS-FAIM Homes JD 5619 web
Pat Landry and Matt Schulz at their Okotoks home. Schulz, a young man with Down syndrome, has lived with the Landrys for four years after finding a home with them through the Foothills Advocacy in Motion (FAIM) Society.

Home is where the heart is.  

At the Landry house in Okotoks the heart grew a bit more when Foothills Advocacy In Motion Society client Matthew Schulz made the home larger by one person about four years ago.  

“I love it — I wish I would have found this years ago,” said Pat Landry, about becoming a FAIMS home-and-care provider. “Matthew is so awesome, funny, kind, helpful. I adore him. He fits right into the family dynamic. He’s very active with me.” 

Foothills AIM Society is a non-profit organization that provides special needs adults with work and a place to live in an effort to keep them in their home community. FAIMS has offices in Okotoks, High River and Strathmore and has approximately 135 clients in total. 

Sherry Toomey, FAIMS home-living manager (Okotoks-High River) said there is a shortage of homes for clients at present (a home-and care provider is a paid occupation).

“I am looking for about six homes at this time (in High River/Okotoks),” Toomey said. “Several of our clients had to move back in with their parents. Some parents are elderly and at this stage of their lives it is difficult to be taking that back on. They do the best they can.” 

She added a temporary home can be found for the clients if needed. 

“The individual we support stays with them for a while, until a permanent home can be found,” Toomey said.  

All of the individuals FAIMS support are over the age of 18.  

“The common thread is developmental delay,” Toomey said. “They need support to develop and maintain independent living skills.” 

Those wishing to offer support at their homes would need to have a police check for all individuals over the age of 18 living at the house.  

As well, the individual providing support would need a valid driver’s licence.  

The supporters help with providing meals for the client, as well as putting a roof over his or her head. That doesn't mean necessarily making meals but working with the individual to ensure he or she receives the proper meals.  

Free training is provided by FAIMS, with the exception of the required first-aid course.  

Landry looked into employment of offering FAIMS support after her husband retired and came across the FAIMS application through the McBride Career Group in Okotoks.  

She admitted she was nervous before Matthew moved in.  

"About having him full time, yes, I was, but I met Matthew twice before his coming here and everything was on a trial basis,” said Landry, adding she received some initial training from FAIMS. “Absolutely, I recommend people do this.

“But you have to have the heart for it. A lot of my family members said, ‘they would never be able to do that’, all I can say is try it out. 

“For anybody who cares, has a heart and understands everybody is different in life, it will be a perfect fit.”  

Schulz, who worked at Okotoks Cinemas and the Regional Field House prior to COVID, is right at home at the Landrys.

‘My life has been definitely great, love it here — I can’t imagine being anywhere else,” Schulz said.  

He said it is like having a second family.  

“I have a family of my own,” Schulz said. “I can relate to them (the Landrys). They have always been family to me in a weird different way.”  

Anyone wishing to become a home-and-care provider with FAIMS can contact Toomey at 403-995-0554 ext. 222 or email [email protected] 

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks