Imagine if care meant family meals, laughter over inside jokes, and vacations together, where support feels less like a service and more like a genuine connection. That’s the heart of what KenCrest’s Lifesharing program aims for: a compassionate approach that replaces clinical settings with real belonging, turning routines into relationships and transforming lives through community.
Instead of living in traditional facilities, Lifesharing invites individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities to become part of families who open their homes and hearts, sharing everyday moments and milestones. KenCrest offers a range of Lifesharing models all provided in a family members home, including traditional, biological, and medically complex, but they all share one powerful belief: everyone deserves a life filled with meaning, surrounded by people who truly care.
For two families, embracing this belief led them to lifesharing, an experience that brought new opportunities and perspectives.
Amanda, John & Fern: Medically Complex Lifesharing Built on Love and Possibility
When Fern entered the world in 2020, Amanda and John braced themselves for a new journey, determined to face life’s challenges together as they learned what it meant to raise a child with Down syndrome. But nothing could have prepared them for the journey that followed; months spent in the NICU, nearly a year in the hospital, and a relentless stream of specialist visits as Fern battled complex endocrine complications. Survival became their daily mission, as milestones, vacations, and even simple moments of rest felt heartbreakingly out of reach.
With the support around her, Fern blossomed into a vibrant five-year-old, attending preschool, expressing herself through American Sign Language (ASL) and an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device, and discovering her world through play, therapies, and new friendships. Yet, the Jacobs family continued to grapple with overwhelming medical needs and the strain of finding sustainable support.
In January of 2025, when Fern was five-years-old, Amanda was introduced to KenCrest’s medically complex Lifesharing model through a CareLync specialist after Fern recieved waiver funding. Suddenly, Amanda and John were no longer isolated in their struggle; they found real, meaningful help. "It was such a relief to finally feel supported," Amanda explained. "This program is so validating; it shows people like us that we’re not alone, and it offers hope to families who don’t have that support system."
Lifesharing opened doors the Jacobs family never thought possible. Fern gained access to critical resources, financial flexibility for therapies and activities like swim classes, and ongoing guidance tailored to her unique needs. "It truly changed our lives," Amanda said, emotion shining through. "It doesn’t just help Fern, it helps our entire family grow and thrive."
With this support, Fern’s world expanded. She took her first independent steps at two and a half, a milestone that filled Amanda with pride and gratitude. Once hesitant to explore, Fern now delights in building blocks, painting, racing cars, and playing with trains. Though she remains non-verbal, technology and therapy have empowered her to connect with those around her.
For Amanda, added support meant reimagining what family life could include. It created space for experiences they once hesitated to plan, like a trip to the beach for the first time. “When Fern was three, we took her to the beach for the first time,” Amanda shares. “I think that was a really important memory that kind of imprinted on both me and John’s hearts.”
Alongside medical needs and daily routines, Fern’s joy and curiosity continue to shine through. With the right supports around her, her days now hold more opportunities for connection, exploration, and simply being a kid, moments that allow her to experience more of the world on her own terms.
Carol & Arturo: A Lifesharing Bond Strengthened by Joy, Independence, and Family
Just as Amanda and John found hope and belonging through Lifesharing for Fern, another story unfolded, one rooted in the power of companionship and family connection. Carol and Arturo’s story highlights the power of genuine relationships and the role Lifesharing has played in their journey. Their journey began with a spark. Carol, visiting a KenCrest community living home for the first time, was greeted by Arturo’s warm smile and infectious joy. The connection was instant, but over time, it became clear that Arturo wanted more than friendly visits and shared outings. When Carol began bringing him along to family gatherings and holidays, she noticed how deeply he was attached to those moments of togetherness.
“He had no family and nowhere to go,” she recalled, explaining why she started including him in celebrations like Thanksgiving and Christmas with her own relatives.
As their relationship grew, Arturo’s bond with Carol only deepened, and her absence was something he felt keenly. When KenCrest later asked Carol if she would welcome Arturo into her home, not as a guest, but as family, her response came without hesitation. “Yes,” she said, “and that was the beginning of it, and we’ve been together ever since.”
With KenCrest’s Lifesharing program, Arturo didn’t just join Carol’s household, he became an inseparable part of her life and heart. He traveled with the family, celebrated milestones, and experienced the freedom to live on his own terms. Weekly community days with Carol’s son Maurice gave him purpose and connection; bowling, shooting pool, movies, and his love for Michael Jackson filled his days with excitement and joy. The once fleeting visits transformed into the everyday magic of true belonging.
“People with special needs want the same quality of life as anyone else, and they should have it,” she reflects. “Arturo chooses how he spends his days, where he goes, and how he lives his life, but I chose to take care of him. He’s become my family.”
One moment shines brighter than the rest: Carol’s 50th birthday, celebrated with family and friends, where Arturo danced with pure joy, lighting up the room. “He brought joy into my life. And I know I brought joy into his.”
Through Lifesharing, Carol and Arturo discovered not only companionship and stability but a profound sense of family, a bond that would never be temporary again.
Where Every Story Begins With ‘Yes’
Fern’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when families receive the right support, while Arturo’s story highlights the joy that springs from deep and meaningful relationships. Though their experiences are shaped by different needs—medical complexity for Fern, lifelong companionship for Arturo—both families show us what Lifesharing truly means. It’s not just about providing care; it’s about opening the door to choice, freedom, and genuine belonging.
In homes touched by Lifesharing, people don’t simply receive services; they gain the opportunity to celebrate milestones, forge independence, and find their place in a family. “Lifesharing gives people like Fern more opportunities to be in the community and to thrive,” Amanda shares, reflecting on the transformation in her own family.
Carol echoes this sentiment, emphasizing a core truth she believes should guide every interaction: “They are human. They have feelings.” Her words reflect the importance of seeing each individual first and foremost as a person.
Lifesharing isn’t just a program, it’s an open invitation to build real connections and make a lasting difference, for the people who join your home and for yourself.
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