Transitional Living Communities is different from any other program that I'm familiar with - in Arizona - or any other state. I'm not saying that I'm 100% sure, but I'm unaware of any other programs that allow clients to stay as long as they want.
We actually have many residents who've been here as long as 20 years and consider TLC their home. We've had several residents who became terminally ill and asked to stay with us until they passed away. And we've allowed them to do so as so as we're able to get them to their medical appointments and trips to their pharmacy.
There are a few reasons for clients staying so long. Many clients who stay extended periods do so because their family has disowned them. Or else their family has passed on or else lost contact with them. We've had many clients who make friendships with one another and end up staying because they want to maintain sober relationships.
We have some clients who worked as volunteers for a number of years and don't feel like leaving, yet are of retirement age. They want the benefits of a sober environment and the recovery community they've come to know and love.
There's a happiness study that was started over 80 years ago at Harvard University - that's still going - which found that people enjoy the most happiness in relationships with friends, family and those they're close to. That may provide a clue why people sometimes spend years living with us.
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