Instead of going to a nursing home or a large assisted living center, Barnes moved into the cozy confines of a family's home.
"It's a real atmosphere just like my father would expect if he was living at home with us, and for that I am truly grateful because he doesn't feel like he's in a nursing home," said Weed, 61, of Wheaton, Md.
"I was incredibly surprised that there was something like this in Washington County. No, I was surprised there was something like this anywhere," Weed said.
Social Services Director David Engle said the program is unique to Washington County.
"It's a program that offers tremendous benefits at a greatly reduced cost to the taxpayer," Engle said. If the clients were living in nursing homes, it would cost taxpayers about $4,000 a month rather than a few hundred dollars.
It's also a program in need of more foster care providers, prompting the Social Services Department to plan an advertising campaign, said Charlie Breakall, adult services supervisor.
"We need desperately to hire more people that are willing to take in elderly and disabled people into their home," Breakall said.
Even if a foster care home has a vacancy, that doesn't mean a client automatically goes to that home, Breakall said. The department tries to match clients and providers, he said.
Social Services provides ongoing training for providers who are hired after the home has been evaluated. The evaluation procedure includes criminal background checks, an inspection by a fire marshal and reviews of any wells or private septic systems, Breakall said.
Social workers are assigned to the clients, he said.
Providers are paid about $1,034 a month for each client, Breakall said. In addition, the department gives each client a monthly allowance of $102.
The program is funded by the client's Social Security, retirement money or federal or state financial assistance. Washington County contributes $40,680 a year.
Social Services has 39 certified providers who care for 93 older or disabled adults in their homes.
"These are adults who need some help with the activities of daily living, but not the full range of services provided by the assisted living and nursing homes," Engle said.
"I think the clients live longer, happier, healthier lives," he said.
Barnes and seven other adults live with Carolyn and Chewy Wilhelm in their Kuhn Avenue home. The Wilhelms have run a care home since April 13, 1986, when they took in a veteran in his early 90s, they said.
In 1988 they made the care home their full-time jobs because there's so many people "that need the love and attention of a care home," Carolyn Wilhelm said.
The six women and two men who live with the Wilhelms say they appreciate the attention and care they receive.
"I love all of you. I'm so glad to be with you," Catherine Fitz, 81, told her housemates.
Fitz's daughter, Pauline Martin, said she checked out adult day care programs for her mother, who has Alzheimer's, but the foster care program clicked with her and Fitz. They also knew Wilhelm from school and church.
Six of the clients spend the day in adult day care, while the Wilhelms take the other two around town twice a week.
They have Bible study at the house, cookouts on the weekends, go fishing and camping and have birthday parties for each client, or family member, Wilhelm said. A birthday party was held Saturday for Barnes, who turned 80.
"They're not sheltered. They're just coached along in their daily living, but they could not live alone," Wilhelm said.
Edith Shank, 84, moved into the Wilhelm house on June 1 after she started getting forgetful and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, said Shank's daughter, Nancy Mongold.
Mongold said she couldn't take care of her mother all day and all night because she runs the Potomac Beauty Boutique.
Her mother, who used to go to the shop every day, visits once a week and helps sweep up hair and folds towels, Mongold said.
Then Shank goes "home" to play her organ - the one that used to sit in her old house - for her new extended family.
Anyone interested in becoming a Project Home provider may call Sheri Lehman at the Department of Social Services at 240-420-2158.
