7 Questions With
Bill
Luedeker
How long have you been opening your home to adults with developmental disabilities or living with someone with a developmental disability?
He’s my grandson, so he’s been living with me for 10 or 15 years. And then they opened it up to where a family member could be a provider about 4 years ago.
What advice do you wish you received when you first started providing services?
They pretty much explained everything at the beginning, including the background checks, HR training course, CPR and all that stuff. So I always knew what they told me I would have to go through to be a provider.
What is the hardest part about the work you do?
Well, it’s really nothing hard. I’ve been taking care of him with my wife before she passed. But there’s really nothing hard about it. He’s a family member and I take care of him and teach him things like how to cook.
What is the best part about the work you do?
Watching him succeed at different things he tries. He loves sports; he plays baseball and swimming on the Special Olympics team as he has for about three years in a row. Watching him do what he enjoys is the best part about it.
What is a dream that you have for yourself?
I want to stay healthy. You know, I’m 77 years old, and I get around real good and mostly just want to stay healthy and active.
What is the dream you have for the person(s) you are supporting?
I think keeping him happy and safe and helping him in the best ways I can. So it’s mostly just making sure he’s taken care of and happy and what he needs.
Who do you consider a hero and why?
I think my wife is my hero. She was actually more involved with him on a daily basis than I was because I was always working and out of the house. I think she would be the hero for me and for him I know he misses her and he brings her brings things that she did with him.