Honoring a Beloved Member of the LIFE Community

Josh Edelson spent many years as a cherished member of the LIFE community, where he built genuine friendships, found joy in everyday moments, and lived with the independence and dignity that every person deserves. He was known and loved — not just by his family, but by staff, neighbors, employers, and especially by fellow LIFE participants who became his dear friends.

Josh’s story at LIFE is in many ways LIFE’s story.

The Edelson family helped establish LIFE decades ago, recognizing that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve more than institutions — they deserve homes, community, friendship, employment opportunities and lives of their own choosing. That model of supported independent living was revolutionary at the time, and it has guided everything LIFE has done in the almost 35 years since.

As Josh’s needs grew in recent years, LIFE adapted along with him, increasing the program’s ability to support those who requiring higher levels of care later in their lives. He transitioned into newly developed Settlers Group Home, still within his beloved LIFE community, where Josh was able to maintain connections to his friends.  During Josh’s time at Settlers, LIFE increased the level of care to earn licensure as a medical group home.

Josh never had to leave his community, and the LIFE community never left Josh. He remained surrounded by the people and places he knew and loved, cared for by staff who knew him well. 

The Road Ahead

Josh’s journey reflects a challenge LIFE is now preparing to face on a larger scale.

Three-plus decades later, LIFE’s earliest residents — the pioneering individuals whose families believed in this mission from the beginning — are aging. Many will face increasing care needs in the years ahead: mobility challenges, chronic health conditions, and the kinds of medical complexities that require more than a standard group home can offer.

LIFE is committed to being ready. But being ready requires investment.

Meeting the needs of aging participants may include investments such as:

• Advanced staff training and certification, including clinical credentials that allow LIFE to deliver higher levels of care while also qualifying for increased reimbursement — strengthening the financial future of the program for the long term
• Accessibility renovations to existing homes, including adaptive equipment, modified bathrooms, wheelchair access, and safety upgrades
• Specialized medical equipment to support residents with complex health needs in their own homes rather than in clinical settings, including wheelchair accessible vehicles and ramps
• Expanded residential capacity, including purchasing or constructing new group homes designed from the ground up to serve aging adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Each of these investments made it possible for Josh to remain safely at LIFE. Each of them will make the same possible for others.

Give in Josh’s Memory

At the request of the Edelson family, all memorial gifts will be designated to LIFE’s newly established Josh Edelson Lifelong Living & Aging Fund, supporting aging and medical-related costs to meet the aging-related needs of LIFE’s participants.

Your gift — of any size — honors a life well lived and helps ensure that the community Josh loved continues to be there for the people who need it most.

Thank you for supporting LIFE aging-related needs. It is an incredible way to honor and celebrate Josh’s legacy.