ROCK HILL, NY — A new care facility currently under development at the Center for Discovery (TCFD) won’t just expand the center’s capabilities in caring for individuals with complex disabilities. It will do so in a way that explores new frontiers in how that care can be delivered. 

TCFD is a nationally recognized nonprofit specializing in groundbreaking care for children and adults with complex disabilities, autism and medical frailties. The center is currently working to construct a new project, the Transitional Living Community (TLC), which will provide dedicated, 24/7 care to 40 aging adults. 

“It’s really a project that we’ve been thinking about for a very long time,” TCFD President and CEO Dr. Terry Hamlin told the River Reporter.

The people that TCFD serves are starting to age—which is a good thing, becaue it means they’ve lived long enough to age, said Hamlin. However, as they’re aging, their medical conditions are, if anything, getting more complex. 

Right now, there’s a gap in the system of care when it comes to aging individuals with complex disabilities. The framework of care as it currently exists sees people going back and forth between hospitals and traditional nursing homes. That framework places additional strain on people, as they have to move from facility to facility to receive the care they need. It also means that, at different stages of their journey, they may be cared for by medical professionals who don’t necessarily have specialized training in caring for people with complex disabilities. 

The TLC will avoid those issues, providing individuals with a residential living situation where they can also receive the treatments and the care they need in-house, from staff who are specially trained to provide that type of care. TCFD will add just under 200 staff members to support the project, allowing the center to provide 24/7 care. 

The community will be located on the third floor of its Rock Hill site, joining the center’s children’s specialty hospital. 

The new facility will give TCFD additional options in providing medical care. For instance, said Hamlin, TCFD can’t currently provide IV treatments inside people’s homes—there aren’t regulations in place to allow it. TCFD will be able to provide these types of treatments and more to residents at the TLC. 

There are benefits, too, for the families of the individuals who will be receiving care. 

“The one question families ask as they age is, ‘Who will take care of our child as they age?’” said Hamlin. She said she is excited for the loved ones of these individuals who will be cared for with TLC; now, she’s able to tell them their child can stay with TCFD as they age and can continue to stay within the system of care that knows them and their needs. 

“For families, it’s peace of mind that they can go to sleep at night, knowing that their individuals will be cared for,” said Hamlin. 

The model of care explored through TLC is getting eyes on it from beyond the county. In December 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the legislation letting TLC go forward, seeing it as a demonstration facility for how this type of care can be provided. More recently, Assembly Member Paula Kay announced a $10 million grant in the Fiscal Year 2027 state budget funding the construction of the TLC. 

TCDF’s “work pushes the limits and redefines areas of care for individuals with developmental disabilities, and this new project is a testament to their consistency and their compassion,” said Kay. “This facility will save many lives and will serve as a shining example for health care agencies all around the state to follow.”

“I think we’ll be leaders in the country trying to address this,” said Hamlin. 

Hamlin said the goal for the facility is to begin construction by November, with a planned 12 months of construction seeing it complete by the end of 2027.

Editor's note: The description of the children's specialty hospital mentioned in the article has been updated as of 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11.