One Family’s Journey and the Urgent Need for More Intermediate Care Facility Beds in Kentucky
For Billie Jo and Kevin, finding the right care for their daughter, Lauren, has been a journey filled with perseverance, heartbreak, and ultimately, hope. Lauren, who suffered a brain injury at birth, has required intensive medical care throughout her life. Her family’s experience navigating the complex system of care for individuals with profound medical needs and an intellectual disability highlights the critical shortage of intermediate care facility (ICF) beds in Kentucky—and why expansion is so desperately needed.
A Lifelong Search for the Right Care
Lauren’s early months were spent in the hospital, fighting for her life. As she grew, her parents were challenged with balancing full-time jobs and caregiving responsibilities for Lauren and her sisters. When coming of school age, Billie Jo and Kevin sought the best possible support for Lauren, enrolling her in the JCPS Churchill Park School – where she would attend to age 20. As the difficulties in providing care and working increased, the family explored options they had to best care for Lauren, eventually transitioning her to live at the Home of the Innocents at age 13. What began as a short-term respite stay turned into a seven-year placement where Lauren thrived. However, as Lauren approached adulthood, her family faced the looming question: What happens next?
Luckily, at age 20 Lauren was accepted into Wendell Foster in Owensboro, a two-hour drive from her family’s home in Louisville. While Wendell Foster provided excellent care, the distance placed an emotional strain on her family. Visits required careful planning, and Billie Jo could no longer be as involved in the day-to-day community of care like she had been before. The Ries family longed to have Lauren closer but knew that Cedar Lake, the facility they had always envisioned for her, had a lengthy waiting list. It would take ten years before they finally received the call that Cedar Lake had an opening.
The Need for More Intermediate Care Facilities
Lauren’s story is not unique. Across Kentucky, families face the same struggles—long waiting lists, few available beds, and difficult choices that sometimes force them to send their loved ones hours away for care. Intermediate care facilities like Cedar Lake provide essential, specialized support for individuals with significant medical complexities. Yet, despite the growing need, there are not enough beds to accommodate every individual who requires this level of care.
Billie Jo has been a fierce advocate for increased funding and expansion of ICF beds in Kentucky. She and other parents have spent years meeting with legislators, sharing their stories, and fighting for change. Their efforts, combined with support from state representatives, finally paid off in 2023 when the Kentucky legislature passed a bill allocating additional beds, paving the way for Cedar Lake to expand and support more individuals like Lauren.
Planning for the Future
Billie Jo’s advice to other parents navigating the system is clear: Start early. “Do your research, visit different care options, be involved in parent support groups, and get on waiting lists as soon as possible,” she urges. “Not every individual fits the same category—some can live at home, in group homes, or with a family home provider, but others need a higher level of medical care that only an ICF can provide. ”As Kentucky continues to face a shortage of ICF beds, it is essential to advocate for solutions that ensure no family has to wait a decade for their loved one’s necessary care. Lauren’s journey has shown the importance of persistence and advocacy, but more importantly, it has highlighted the urgent need for more resources and support for families facing similar challenges.
Cedar Lake is actively exploring options for growth to meet the increasing demand for ICF care. While expansion is not yet guaranteed, the organization remains committed to advocating for solutions that will provide more families with access to the care they need, closer to home. It’s a step in the right direction—but continued advocacy and awareness are necessary to ensure that no one is left without options when they need them most.
