By Jessica Honigford
Community Post
NEW BREMEN – Starting July 6, adults in the area who qualify for Medicaid’s level one waiver will have a new service offered to them.  Capabilities Inc. out of St. Marys is opening a new center, Capabilities Country Club in New Bremen.  The Country Club will be a daytime habilitation center for adults with disabilities, offering them activities and skills learning.

Capabilities Inc. owner Karen Blumhorst says she and the staff at the Capabilities Inc. and the Country Club have a vision for the new facility.  “We want to provide an alternative that is engaging, active, entertaining, meaningful, but still teaches new skills,” Blumhorst said.
The Country Club, located at 9482 Country Road 66A, outside of New Bremen will offer MRDD adults with day time services to help teach them basic skills for home, the workplace and in social situations.
The Country Club will offer the following for its members: video gaming systems (Wii, Xbox, and Nintendo), large screen television with satellite programming, pool table, air hockey, foosball, board and card games, computers, exerciser room and a hot tub.  The members of the Country Club will also receive lunch every day and help to prepare the lunches in the kitchen.
Each member will have a say in what activities the club will participate in every week, down to what is served for lunch, according to Country Club manager Tania Byron.
“It’s going to be called the Country Club because we want to work toward a sense of community and ownership,” Byron said.  “Everyone wants to be a member of something.”
The members will help decide where the club will go on day trips, which will include the library, shopping centers and farms in the area.
“Capabilities started out helping people find employment,” Byron said.  “Now we can offer daytime programming that helps teach life skills.”
Interested people who do not qualify for Medicaid waiver level one can also self pay, according to Blumhorst.
The facility will be open daily during the week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Transportation to and from the participants’ homes and to and from the activities are included, as is lunch.  “You’re definitely getting extra,” Blumhorst said.
In a press release announcing its opening, the Blumhorst family said the services offered at the Country Club will be highly individualized.
“The Country Club will develop individualized monthly goals for each of the members,” the press release stated.  “The activities will center on individual interests, personal preferences, and their specific needs.  Staff members will encourage independence, decision making, self confidence, and self esteem.  The program will work with families, caretakers, and other support staff to provide the best services possible for the members.  Capabilities will also provide and assist members with healthy and nutritious meal planning, shopping, meal preparation, and meal clean up.”
The Country Club is set to open July 6 with an open house taking place on opening day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Blumhorst encourages for providers, parents, guardians, support staff, eligible individuals and anyone else who is interested in the program to come to the open house or call to set up an appointment or tour of the facilities. Interested members of the community can  call 419-394-0003 or log on to Capabilities Inc.’s Web site www.capabilitiesinc.biz for more information.