Lay movements XVI: Cheshire Homes.

The Cheshire Home development falls neither under the category of new Catholic "movements nor of catholic "lay associations" because no Catholic membership is required. However, we decided to make an exception to the rule partly because the founder was a Catholic and partly because the Christian spirit of compassion and love made the movement possible.

Editor

To most Canadians the word "Cheshire" conjures up association with cheese or cats. Some will recognize it as one of Britain's counties but few know that the founder of the Cheshire Homes movement, Group Captain Leonard Cheshire (later Lord Cheshire of Woodhall) VC, ONM, DSO, DFC, was born there. And how many Canadians know about the role of Cheshire Homes in the international arena or even in Canada itself? These homes have performed pioneer work in caring for persons with disabilities, mostly in the young adult age group.

The contributions of Cheshire Homes to the Canadian health care system could not have been achieved without the inspiration and dedication of the founder. Experienced in destruction (Leonard Cheshire carried out 100 bombing raids over Nazi Germany), and greatly influenced by the devastation he witnessed as an official observer of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, this man, at the end of the hostilities, devoted his life to "construction." Cheshire's dedication to the relief of pain and suffering stemmed from deeply held religious convictions. In 1948, at the age of 31, he had embraced the Catholic faith: this would provide the vision which gave birth to the movement bearing his name and sustain him until his untimely death in 1992 from motor-neurone disease. Although Cheshire hoped that spiritual values would be cherished, he insisted that the homes be non-denominational and that people's need rather than their faith should determine their eligibility for care.

Late off the mark

Canada was a relative latecomer in establishing Cheshire Homes. By the late sixties, the movement, which was firmly rooted in Britain, had spread to other countries in Europe as well as to Africa and Asia. However, there were no homes in the New World. This omission would soon be rectified.

In 1967, I myself, who had assisted in establishing the first Cheshire Home at Ibadan in Nigeria, arrived in Saskatoon to take up university employment. Almost immediately, I was asked by Leonard Cheshire to assess the need for homes in Western Canada. The need was obvious; many young adults with physical disabilities were inappropriately housed in nursing homes for the elderly.

The question was where to start. Cheshire had confessed that, when he was persuaded to take sick people into his ancestral home, lacking the means to care for them, he formed a committee. I did likewise: even so, it was not until 1975 that the first custom-built group home for the physically disabled in Western Canada opened in Saskatoon. Coincidentally, a group in Toronto was paving the way for a residential facility there and had the good fortune to secure a property (McLeod House), which opened in 1972.

Purpose of the homes

The majority of the Canadian Cheshire Homes cater to people with physical disabilities. Residents receive shelter and personal care but are encouraged to be as independent as their health status allows. Wherever possible, they engage in sheltered workshop activities either at the home or in the community. Some complete their schooling or enrol in university or community college courses.

Others see Cheshire as a temporary home providing an environment conducive to the acquisition of social skills necessary for future independent living. This latter role is well illustrated by Brenda, who was a resident for six years in the Saskatoon Cheshire Home: "Cheshire played an important role in my life following an automobile accident which left me without the use of my legs and full function of my arms. The support I received from other residents, watching them and picking up little tricks to aid daily living, was very helpful and enabled me to establish a new identity. The Home assisted in making the transition from hospital to the community where, eventually, I was able to further my education and secure employment."

Brenda, who is now in her forties and left Cheshire in 1985, bought a house, acquired Arts and Social Work degrees and, for the past four years, has been employed at the local office of a national organization serving disabled persons. What is more, she is currently vice-president of the board of directors of the Saskatoon Cheshire Homes.

Community outreach

Although initially the Cheshire aim was to provide residential care, it became apparent that the organization had a role to play in extending services to the community. These services are diverse and include day centres, home care, employment training and, particularly in developing countries, campaigning for disability rights. Cheshire London, for example, provides outreach attendant services to persons in their own homes in five Ontario counties.

As part of the philosophy of meeting a community need, the Cheshire Homes of British Columbia Society has focused on providing both residential and community services for persons with acquired brain injury. Other examples of specialization are seen in Ottawa and Willowdale, Ontario, where persons with visual impairment associated with another disability are cared for. The Rotary Cheshire apartment building in Willowdale is unique in housing adults with both visual and hearing impairment.

How are the homes operated?

The Canadian Cheshire Homes conform to provincial legislation governing the operation of not-for-profit health organizations. Core funding is normally provided by Health, Social Services, or Housing departments. Additional financial support from service clubs, religious organizations, and the public provides extra amenities for residents. Governance is provided by volunteer boards of directors or management committees, which appoint senior staff to run the homes.

Canada is fortunate in receiving a large measure of government support in addressing the residential and community needs of disabled persons. This is rarely the case in many developing countries, where heavy reliance is placed on community support. The mix of disabilities commonly found in the Cheshire Homes in these countries is a sustaining influence: residents who are intellectually impaired but physically active assist in food preparation and general maintenance.

Part of a global community

The Cheshire movement sees itself as an international organization--a claim substantiated by its 255 homes and services in 55 countries. These figures exclude the 88 homes and 62 services in the United Kingdom. National and regional networks provide links with the London-based Leonard Cheshire Foundation. Canada, formerly part of a huge Western Region embracing North and South America and the Caribbean, now enjoys its own representation on the Cheshire International Committee. Regional meetings are held periodically and every few years a major international conference takes place in London, England. These gatherings enable delegates from many countries to share experiences and determine the future direction of the organization.

What of the future?

It is important for a health-related organization such as Cheshire Homes to assess its role in the community regularly. This is particularly important for homes in Canada, where the health scene is constantly changing. Medical research, especially in preventive medicine, rehabilitation and genetics, affects patterns of disease. Poliomyelitis, a scourge of the post-World-War-II era, has been eliminated, and with it a major cause of physical disability. Knowledge of a genetically determined disease such as muscular dystrophy, accompanying an increased emphasis on genetic counselling, has reduced the need for service for this disability.

At the same time, we have no effective strategies for reducing the number of persons afflicted with multiple sclerosis. Motor vehicle and diving accidents causing spinal cord injuries and brain damage show no sign of abating. Providing sufficient appropriate accommodation for persons with acquired brain injury remains a challenge.

Expansion of community health services is making it easier for disabled persons who are able to handle their own affairs to live independently. This trend diminishes the need for residential services but makes greater demands on home care. One foresees an extension of Cheshire's outreach programmes to meet the changing scene. Another area for exploration and development is providing services for persons with multiple disabilities. As mentioned earlier, a start has been made in Canada in meeting the special needs of brain-injured, blind, and deaf persons whose mobility is impaired.

The aim is always to be forward looking. An organization that remains static gradually loses ground and has a real possibility of folding. Leonard Cheshire was aware of this: he had a keen perception of what to do at any particular time and how to do it. His vision should continue to illuminate the movement he pioneered--a concept well illustrated in a recent publication, Still the Candle Burns, by June Beslievre, recording examples of his leadership, dedication and humility.

Dr. Owens' association with Cheshire Homes covers a period of over 40 years. Apart from his work in founding homes in Nigeria and Canada, he has visited many in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Currently he represents the Canadian homes and services on the International Committee of Leonard Cheshire International, London, England.

He can be reached by e-mail, [e-mail]. By telephone at, [phone].+