The Foothills Advocacy in Motion Society is looking for residents to open their hearts and homes to those with a developmental disability.

Providing care and living arrangements goes beyond earning a paycheck, AIM Society works to give homeowners the best match which can turn into a new family member.

Okotoks resident Marsha Stark-Fowlie has been a residential-care provider for Dian Braaten with AIM Society for eight years and says the group is great to work with.

"They are very accommodating with helping find the right homes to work with so you're never feeling like you're just out there with a client and you don't know and you don't have support, you do have a lot of support from within in the agency, other care providers, other respite homes, it's endless."

Stark-Fowlie describes her relationship with Braaten as her being like both her mother and child and says Braaten is self-sufficient in getting around town and needs assistance with certain tasks. She participates in seniors gentle aqua-fit twice a week and volunteers at Bibles for Missions Okotoks twice a week as well.

She says it takes a special person to take in someone with a disability.

"What you bring to it is what comes back to you. If you have an open mind and you're very patient and you have the time, because you need the time to develop the relationship with that person and the trust, and I think that goes a long way to making that person feel independent and be more self sufficient. You put the time in and the positive energy it does come back to you."

Stark-Fowlie says she's received numerous comments from Braaten's family on how well she's doing, how independent she is in the community, and how advanced she's become in her time with her.

She adds that providing care not only changes the life of the client, but your own as well.

"Dian does very well at being in one place for a long period of time and I think any client would get the most out of their life fulfillment having that structure and becoming a part of a family. Dian's roll in my family is she's almost like a grandma figure to my two sons, we often get mistaken for mother and daughter."

A few requirements AIM looks for in a residential-care provider include:

- a valid driver's license and reliable vehicle

- willing to obtain First Aid and CPR as well as attend internal courses offered by the AIM Society

- transport the person they support to and from programs and activities

- teach independent living skills

- provide opportunities for social involvement

- provide support in day-to-day decisions

- be willing to work as part of a team

Those looking for more information can contact Sherry Toomey, AIM Society’s home living manager, at (403) 995-0554 ext 222, or email sherry@faims.org.

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email us at news@okotoksonline.com