About Us
Human Dignity Foundation is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded by a group of Catholic lay people to respond to the dignity of each person by building a better kind of residential care environment. While those with financial means have many choices, those with limited means must struggle to find a place to live and receive the care they need. We have been told that we are the only non-profit charitable Adult Family Home in the State of Washington. This is not surprising because the funding received through Medicaid programs does not cover the cost of care, particularly when the residents frequently need a 24/7 wake staff to respond to needs during the nicht. The cost of 24/7 staff is by far the largest expense and caregivers are hard to find. Since AFHs are usually businesses, they cannot usually survive or make any profit on low-income residents.
Most care homes must restrict access to those who can pay fully for their care or limit access to one or two that need state assistance. When we were founded, a large number of those on assistance lived in the "long term" sections of skilled nursing homes. Here they shared rooms and it often took 30 minutes or more to get a call bell answered. It would not be unusual for one caregiver to be responsible for over twenty rooms. We used to visit them and find them waiting in the halls looking at the doors. Now, these skilled facilities have focused their attention on the profitable side of the business -- rehabilitation. There are fewer and fewer rooms available for those with long-term care needs that either currently or will need assistance. Most private pay assisted living facilities do not take any residents on Medicaid, or limit the number to a few smaller studios and residents with low care needs. For private pay, they usually require a contract guaranteeing private pay for a set number of years. Skilled care facilities focus on short-term stays where Medicare for the first 30 days, fully but will not accept anyone on Medicaid to avoid the risk that they will not be able to find alternative placement when Medicare stops paying. Additionally, the long-term care wings are becoming less common or have been reduced in size. When they exist, residents are housed in rooms with two, sometimes more, beds in each room with a curtain between them.
To be fair -- these businesses and need to make a profit. However, with an aging population, and improvements in medical treatments, the need for residential care is rising. Even those who have saved during their working lives often find that those savings are depleted very fast when care is needed. We need to address this need and ensure everyone lives with the dignity and loving care they deserve. Human Dignity's goal is to provide a quality, caring living space to all, regardless of their financial condition.
Founded to respond to the dignity of each person with a focus on the elderly, disabled and terminally ill, Human Dignity Foundation started with a community center, The John Paul II Center for Life in Camas, Washington. Located near a skilled care home, our volunteers wore blue jackets and went to local care facilities to visit residents. We also provided free space for community organizations, a mental health counselor, and support groups. Our volunteers visited the care homes, helped people living alone, knit hats and scarfs and collected warm clothes for those in need.
Our long-term goal was to build a care community around a central hub designed to provide full services to residents of surrounding facilities (e.g., assisted living, retirement, adult care home). This economy of scale associated with the hub would allow each type of living facility to provide residents with a wide range of services that would otherwise be cost prohibitive. These services would help residents live as fully as possible (e.g., activities, physical therapy, vocational therapy, skilled nurses, entertainment, food preparation, and a chapel for spiritual needs). We wanted to provide a place that is not a human warehouse providing the minimum.
While many agreed that this was needed, funding it was another matter. Unfortunately, there are not many grants available for funding the elderly, disabled, and terminally ill. It became clear that the big project would have to wait. So, we needed to start small with an Adut Care Home where we could at least make a difference to six residents at a time.
Despite many obstacles, in 2012 we obtained the house that would become Good Shepherd Manor. It required a complete remodel (including insulation, wiring, plumbing, re-framing, and adding an addition). In addition, the spacious grounds required a lot of work to manage drainage. After two years of delays in construction and then the lengthy licensing process, we opened our doors in August of 2014 with a voluntary nurse manager, a Secular Carmelite resident caregiver, an additional caregiver, and our first resident. Since that time, our home has provided loving care for six residents at a time. We sat with many as they ended their earthly journey. We try to enrich them by providing activities that they can look forward to and enjoy. We focused on each person having a larger private room, with extra soundproofing, central and individual heat and air, and internet and flat screen entertainment in each room. To support quality care, we use state-of-the-art adult home management software. Good Sheperd Manor is located on a parklike property off the Washougal River. Each one of our residents is special to us and a part of our family. Good Shepherd Manor is a home, and the residents are a family. Our caregivers become part of that family.
While founded and built by lay Catholics to respond to the dignity of each person and reflect Christ's love for each resident. Our residents come from a wide range of spiritual beliefs as have our caregivers come from all faiths. We do our best to ensure that each resident's unique spiritual needs are provided for.
As a Charitable 501(c)(3) we welcome donations to help us meet the needs of our wonderful residents.
