About

Often seen as “disabled”, we choose to see adults with developmental and intellectual challenges as “differently-abled“. We strive to honor their hopes and dreams while providing support and peace-of-mind for their families.

Sierra Salem Christian Homes offers a safe, loving, life-long community where residents grow and thrive socially, emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually within a compassionate, attentive and Christian environment.

  • MISSION

    The mission of Sierra Salem Christian Homes is guided by the belief that developmentally disabled adults are indeed image bearers of God. It is our mission to provide Christ-centered security, support and compassionate care which will encourage the residents to reach their full potential spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, socially and physically within a loving Christian environment.

    VISION

    Sierra Salem seeks to honor our loving God by working to provide a lifetime of high-quality Christ-like residential care, support and training to individuals with a developmental or intellectual disability.

    OUR CORE VALUES

    The Bible is the word of God. God created all humanity in his image. God through his Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is working to redeem everyone. God uses believers to show His love for all people. Therefore, individuals with a developmental or intellectual disability should be treated with dignity and respect as valued members of the community and of the church.

  • In 1985, a local group of Christian men and women, with a concern for improving the quality of life of those with a developmental or intellectual disability, decided to find a new way to provide care for developmentally disabled adults. They undertook this challenge because they saw a need for an organization that would model Christ’s love by providing high-quality, long-term residential care and training to those living with a disability.

    This group, with the support of local churches, recognized the need for an organization to provide residential care that aligned with their faith and values. They established Sierra Salem Christian Homes in 1990 to provide high-quality care, life skills instruction and training in a spacious, home-like environment. It was also vital that Sierra Salem homes served as a life-long residence for their adult residents, and that care and support would continue after their families were no longer able to support their care.

    In 1991, Sierra Salem opened its first home in Modesto. In 2000, a second home was specifically designed and built to meet the special needs of its residents. The third home was licensed in December of 2003.  Each home is located in residential neighborhoods and provides quality care for up to 6 residents while promoting healthy relationships, supporting spiritual growth, as well as providing training in independent living skills.

    Sierra Salem strives to proactively meet the changing needs of the individuals it serves by amending facility program designs or developing new programs that will best meet each person’s unique needs, goals, interests and preferences.  With the newest home in January of 2019, Sierra Salem is furthering its vision of providing a lifetime of high-quality residential care, support and training by specifically meeting the needs and preferences of our older residents who require a higher level of care.

  • Sierra Salem’s philosophy of service is reflected in our ongoing efforts to see each resident reach their full potential through support, guidance, and training in an environment where Christian standards, concerns and love are evident.

    Each individual resident receives opportunities for intellectual, spiritual, physical, social and emotional growth. This is best done in a place where God is acknowledged as the center of all things and where all people, regardless of ability level, are seen as God’s children and image-bearers.

    Each resident is treated as an individual who has definite personal and legal rights and receives careful, progressive training that will integrate him/her as fully as possible into the community, while supporting and strengthening their relationships with their families.

  • Sierra Salem Christian Homes provides a warm, safe, loving Christian environment for our residents in which to live and develop their talents. Our expert staff celebrates the unique aspects of each resident and presents them with a wide array of activities that assists in improving their daily skills and helps to enrich their lives.

    • Residents are encouraged and guided to share duties such as preparing meals, cleaning, washing their clothes and other life skills.

    • Residents are also encouraged to participate in the employment or volunteer opportunities available through one of the day programs provided in Stanislaus County.

    • Regular recreational outings are another means by which the residents experience community participation.

    • Opportunities are also available for our residents to attend Sunday worship services and weekly Bible studies including Friendship Classes.

    Comfortable, caring homes.

    Services are currently provided in several spacious homes located in quiet, safe neighbors in Modesto, California. Each residence is decorated in a comfortable, caring, home-like environment. The residents live as a family, which provides support, community awareness, and a sense of belonging.

    Regular facility inspections.

    Each home is licensed as an adult residential care facility, thereby inspected regularly by the State of California, Department of Social Services, and Community Care Licensing Division.

    Customized care.

    Sierra Salem‘s Kirkwood home is designed to meet the needs of residents requiring a higher level of care. Residents enjoy many of the same benefits of the other homes but, due to physical limitations, they are provided with a more intensive, active treatment plan. The plan is developed based on the individuals’ unique desires and needs with the assistance of a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP), Registered Nurse, Dietitian, Pharmacist, Physical Therapist, and/or other professionals as needed.

  • Our aim is to provide a pleasant home-like atmosphere where residents are able to meet the goals stated in their Individual Program Plans (IPP) or service plans. We also offer quality care that helps our residents gain greater independence in the areas of personal living skills, interpersonal skills, community living skills, recreation, transportation and employment. Training methods vary according to the individual’s needs and objectives.

    Basic Services

    • Room and Board: Each home provides a spacious home-like environment with individually furnished bedrooms, a living room, activity area, dining room and kitchen.

    • Linen and Laundry: Each resident receives clean linen weekly (or more often if needed), including bedding, towels, and wash-clothes. Each home contains a laundry area with a washer and dryer, counter space for folding and sorting laundry, an ironing board and iron, and supplies for mending clothing.

    • Meals: Residents receive three nutritious meals a day plus snacks. If the resident is involved in a day program, a bag lunch and snacks are provided. If prescribed, the resident is provided a modified diet. All homes work with a registered dietitian to help residents monitor and pursue healthy eating. Additionally, each home uses custom-made menus where many recipes are made from scratch.

    • Supplies: Residents receive toilet and hygiene products among other household items.

    • Supervision: Sierra Salem provides continuous in-house supervision of residents while residents are on-site, and schedules staff hours appropriate for the home’s service level. Staff are accessible 24-hours a day.

    • Medical: Staff arrange and assist residents with routine and emergency medical and dental care. They also help obtain emergency healthcare for temporary illness and injury. Transportation to medical and dental appointments is provided. Residents receive assistance with medications as prescribed by the resident’s physician. Staff provides ongoing health observation.

    Training and Guidance

    • Personal Living Skills: Residents receive individual training as needed in the following areas: grooming and personal hygiene, personal money management, personal shopping, laundering clothing, housekeeping, meal preparation as well as hobbies and leisure time skills.

    • Interpersonal Skills: Residents are taught socialization and communication skills at home and in the community. They also become involved with group decision-making. Judgment and problem-solving skills are emphasized.

    • Community Living Skills: Residents are given training in banking, shopping, and dining out. Each person is given the opportunity to participate in community church services of their choice.

    • Recreation: Residents receive the opportunity to participate in community events such as concerts, movies and community festivals. In addition to community events, we offer regular opportunities for recreation through games, crafts, exercise (i.e. bowling, walking, bike rides) and other activities such as going out with friends and shopping at the mall, to name a few. Constructive use of free time and positive social interaction are emphasized.

    • Transportation: Residents are given the opportunity and training to use public transportation if they are capable. Many homes are located along or near a city bus route. Transportation to and from day programs or a job site may be arranged with Storer Transportation, Dial-A-Ride or Modesto Area Public Transportation. Staff provide transportation as needed to medical and dental appointments. Transportation is also provided for activities or outings. Each Sierra Salem home maintains a van for these purposes.

    Additional Services

    We are committed to supporting each individual. As such, we often provide these additional services to residents:

    • Transportation to church services and Bible studies.

    • Advocacy and support for long-range planning and decision-making

    • Assistance with medication management

    • Meal preparation including training in preparing healthy meals

    • Paperwork that can accompany appointments or job applications

    • Encouraging making good choices during each day

    This is not an all-inclusive list. Additional resources are added according to the individuals ISP and a needs / likes assessment.

FAQs

Where are the homes located?

Sierra Salem currently has several spacious, comfortable homes in quiet residential neighborhoods in Modesto, California.

What is a developmental or intellectual disability?

According to the California Department of Developmental Services, the term “developmental or intellectual disability? refers to a severe and chronic disability that is attributable to a mental or physical impairment that begins before an individual reaches adulthood. These disabilities include intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and disabling conditions closely related to intellectual disability or requiring similar treatment.

How many residents are in each home?

Each home serves up to six adults starting at age 18. One home serves only women. The others serve both men and women.

Do residents or their families have to pay live at Sierra Salem?

The resident’s portion of their room and board cost comes from their monthly SSI payment. No additional payment is required from the individual resident or from their family.

How do I apply?

Simply call or email us. Our dedicated staff will be happy to arrange a tour of the homes, provide you with an application, and answer any questions you may have.

Is Sierra Salem affiliated with a specific church or denomination?

Sierra Salem is an independent nonprofit agency supported by individuals and churches from several different denominations. Our residents attend a variety of churches including Christian Reformed, Reformed Church of America, Baptist, Catholic and churches not affiliated with any denomination.

When is the right time to opt for care of a loved one?

It can be challenging to admit you need help, especially if you’ve been a highly independent person used to caring for others all your life! And if you’re the caregiver, it may be equally difficult to consider allowing “strangers” to care for your beloved family member.

Many parents recognize that an individual with special needs has many of the same hopes and dreams that they have. Dreams such as living in a nice home, in a safe neighborhood, becoming as independent as possible, developing friends outside of their immediate families, and becoming a valuable part of their church and community. These are attainable goals. Much like a child going off to college or moving into their own apartment, many families will begin look for a care home when their son or daughter is no longer in school. Other families begin to investigate a home when they see this individual becoming isolated, with a desire for their family member to develop outside friendships. Still others wait until such time as the family cannot practically provide the care and supervision for their loved one.

 Definitions of Several Disabilities

  • Intellectual Disability is characterized by significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning (i.e., an IQ of approximately 70 or below) with concurrent deficits or impairments in adaptive functioning.

  • Cerebral Palsy includes two types of motor dysfunction: (1) nonprogressive lesion or disorder in the brain occurring during intrauterine life or the perinatal period and characterized by paralysis, spasticity, or abnormal control of movement or posture, such as poor coordination or lack of balance, which is manifest prior to two or three years of age, and (2) other significant motor dysfunction appearing prior to age 18.

  • Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with multiple causes or origins. It is defined as a syndrome causing gross and sustained impairment in social interaction and communication with restricted and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities that appear prior to the age of three. Specific symptoms may include impaired awareness of others, lack of social or emotional reciprocity, failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level, delay or absence of spoken language and abnormal nonverbal communication, stereotyped and repetitive language, idiosyncratic language, impaired imaginative play, insistence on sameness (e.g., nonfunctional routines or rituals), and stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms.

  • Epilepsy is defined as recurrent, unprovoked seizures.

  • Other developmental or intellectual disabilities are those handicapping conditions, similar to those listed above, that require treatment (i.e., care and management) similar to that required by individuals with intellectual disability. This does not include handicapping conditions that are solely psychiatric or physical in nature. The handicapping conditions must occur before age 18, result in a substantial handicap, is likely to continue indefinitely, and involve brain damage or dysfunction. Examples of conditions might include intracranial neoplasms, degenerative brain disease or brain damage associated with accidents.

    More information is available through the California Department of Developmental Services