Resident Assistant Program

The feature that distinguishes Creative Living from any other similar facility in the country is its Resident Assistant Program. These 25 to 30 young men and women, mostly college students, work around the clock seven days a week. They are "on call" through an intercom system that connects each apartment to the lobby, and they help residents with incidentals and emergencies when their own personal care attendants are not available. Duties may range from removing a jacket to locking a door or turning them in their beds at night. Personal attendants are hired by each resident to handle personal hygiene and daily routines, but resident assistants often lend a hand when personal attendants need help with lifting a resident from bed to chair. Many of the resident assistants are pursuing health-related careers, and view their work at Creative Living as an invaluable opportunity to gain relevant experience in the health care field. The Resident Assistant Program, while providing an invaluable service to the residents, makes up nearly one third of CL's annual operating budget - over $243,000/year. Consequently, financial support is always needed to help defray these costs.