It’s not too often that the mission statement of a company is to put themselves out of business.
But that’s exactly what Flushing resident Brad Tankersley, director of operations for Independent Life Supportive Services (ILSS), Inc., hopes to do.
Tankersley started ILSS for high-functioning, traumatic brain injury clients at Indian Lake Village Apartments in Lake Orion in February 2004 and now has six people in the program.
He employs 10 people, including the program’s manager, Jessica Cobb.
Tankersley has three vans that transport his clients to such activities as baseball games, concerts and trips to the park.
Each of the six has their own two-bedroom apartment at Indian Lake Village, and all of their doctor’s appointments and grocery shopping trips are arranged through ILSS.
Tankersley said he had been wanting to start a program like ILSS since his own son, Brett Shelley, now 32 years old and one of the six in the program, suffered a closed head injury 11 years ago.
‘I kept putting it off,? Tankersley said. ‘I felt there needed to be a place for people functioning at this high of a level. So they could have a place to get some of their life back.?
Tankersley said ILSS is all about helping people ‘move on,? and ‘our goal is to put ourselves out of business.?
‘We provide them with housing, transportation and activities,? he said. ‘Things to keep them occupied. We take them to the grocery store…they have no expenses, those are all taken care of through the insurance companies.?
According toTankersley, each client’s circumstances are different, and a lot of elements would have to come into play before it was decided they would be able to totally live on their own.
‘We help them to be able to do basically what you do every day when you go home,? he added. ‘We max out at 10 people in each apartment complex.?
ILSS currently only operates out of Indian Lake Village, but Tankersley would love to see the program expand to other areas.
‘I came (to Lake Orion) for one resident, because his children live nearby,? Tankersley said. ‘I find my clients through networking.?
So far, Tankersley said the six clients he has at Indian Lake Village have given the program high marks.
‘It’s a very good response,? he said.
Steve Maenza, 44, is one of the clients at Indian Lake Village, and he credits Tankersley and ILSS with helping to change his quality of life for the better.
‘I heard something good about this…I packed up quick,? he said. ‘Brad got into it for the missionary of it, not for the money.?
Maenza said he got his closed head injury as a result of a pedestrian accident in 1989, when he was struck while crossing the street by a pickup truck doing about 70 miles per hour.
He said he was in a coma for seven weeks after the accident.
‘There are no two head injuries alike,? Maenza said. ‘I have poor impulse control and decision making.?
When Maenza first came to ILSS, he was drinking about 18 cans of soda a day. Today, he said he doesn’t drink any pop.
?(ILSS) got my medication adjusted,? Maenza said. ‘If I was going to spend the rest of my life in a facility, it would be here.?
One of Tankersley’s goals with ILSS was to allow his clients to live as full of a life as possible.
‘We know the reality of traumatic brain injury is most people won’t end up totally independent,? he said. ‘They trip and fall sometimes…They need help to get up, just like we do.
‘They need the same thing, a little help to get up and keep going,? Tankersley said.
Prior to starting ILSS, Tankersley worked in the insurance business. Now he travels five days a week from his home in Flushing to ILSS in Lake Orion.
‘I’m here on the weekends if they need me,? he said. ‘We also have a great staff, I’m very proud of them.?
Tankersley started ILSS more for the mission aspect of it then for financial gain.
‘You have to look at the ministry end,? he said. ‘If you are in it for the money, there are lots of jobs less demanding emotionally.?
Tankersley said it’s also important that ILSS treats its clients like the intelligent individuals they are.
‘We have staff meetings, to make sure everyone is staying in line with that kind of treatment,? he said. ‘We also have meetings with all the residents, and they can voice issues.?
Tankersley said having that opportunity to vent was something his son never got before.
‘Like gripe sessions,? he said. ‘But by the end, everyone’s sitting back and joking.?
Tankersley said the management at Indian Lake Village has been wonderful about having the program housed there. ILSS also has their main office in one of the apartments.
‘They are very nice people,? Maenza said.
Having experienced it for himself, Tankersley would never recommend that a relative try to handle taking care of their loved one if they have a closed head injury.
‘It doesn’t work out for the best most of the time,? he said. ‘A guardian has to make tough decisions. There’s so much emotion involved.
‘A court-appointed guardian is usually an attorney. They can talk over legal situations…there were a lot of times when I wished I was just the guy my son could call and vent to,? said Tankersley.
For more information about Independent Life Supportive Services, Inc., visit them online at www.ilssonline.com, or email ilssonline@yahoo.com.