By KELLY WILSON

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

Karen Zopf can't live alone.

The 48-year-old Quincy woman, born with Down syndrome, has lived with her parents, Harold and Dorothy Zopf, her whole life. But at ages 82 and 79, respectively, the Zopfs worry about their daughter's future.

"Harold and I are both at the age we have to think about what's going to happen to her when we're not here," Dorothy said. "She would have to have the 24-hour care."

They thought that a group home for the developmentally disabled operated by Transitions of Western Illinois would be the ideal solution. But now they don't know whether state funding will be available to allow Karen to enjoy such a living arrangement.

"That's the answer to our prayers, I tell you," Dorothy said.

Transitions is facing significant cuts in state funding this year, and if a solution isn't found, vital services for people in the area with developmental disabilities and mental health problems -- including residential services -- will be cut.

Every day, the Zopfs worry that the state funding won't be there when Karen needs a home.

"You can't imagine how frustrating it is," she said. "It's constantly on my mind. It's really something to worry about. We don't have many options. We've been waiting for some place for a long time and right now, time's getting away from us. It's too bad (the state) can't find the money to give a little more peace for the parents.

"We sure don't want anything to happen and not have her placed somewhere."

It's important to the Zopfs that Karen remain rooted in Quincy, where she has friends.

"She just wouldn't be happy if we had to place her out of town," Dorothy said. "All of her friends and all of her activities are here. She belongs to Special Olympics, and bowling is her main activity. She loves going dancing and playing bingo, and family things."

Karen also attends day programming at Transitions, which is an integral part of her life.

The Zopfs pray, too, that the day programming services they've come to rely on won't be in jeopardy because of the state's budget crisis.

"Karen would miss the Transitions care," Dorothy said. "She goes to Transitions every day and she likes it. She's done laundry and little jobs like that. She's very proud when she can bring home a little check. It means everything to her. It's a little money she can go bowling with."

Karen has been going to the day developmental training program at Transitions since she was 21.

"It's just a life for her," Dorothy said. " It's just very important and I don't know what we would have done all these years without it."

She says Karen has had some anxiety problems the last few years, and thinks some of it may relate to the uncertainty about where she will live in the future.

"We've talked to her about it," Dorothy said. "She's seeing what happens to her friends when their parents aren't here any longer. That might be part of her anxiety."

'It is getting to be a real struggle'

Thom and Cindy Drieselman are in a similar situation.

Thom's 42-year-old sister, Donna, who was born with a developmental disability, has lived with the couple for about eight years. They became her caregivers after Thom's and Donna's parents died.

"If something would happen to me, it would be an instant emergency situation," Cindy said. "She has one brother in Detroit who would be unable to do it, and our children live out of state. There's no other family to take on Donna, and to move her out of the Quincy area would be devastating to her.

"She could be placed anywhere from Joliet to Chicago with no family or friends to be around her, and we do not want that."

Like Karen Zopf, Donna benefits from the day programming services offered by Transitions, and taking her out of that environment would be difficult.

"These people are her family, and she looks forward to being there," Cindy said. With the help of Transitions, Donna has been able to work as a dish washer at the Quincy Senior and Family Resource Center.

But while she "comes across as being quite independent ... and can do anything with direction and supervision, she is incapable of doing it on her own," Cindy said. "She cannot live by herself."

Donna is on a waiting list for a group home that is being built in Quincy for the developmentally disabled. But Transitions may not be able to staff the facility due to inadequacy of state funding for residential care.

The Drieselmans own their own business, and Cindy said it's becoming more difficult to handle the business and take care of Donna.

"It is getting to be a real struggle. We've had wonderful people to help us in the past, but things in their lives have changed. We need to free up our lives a little bit, too," Cindy said.

She believes Donna would thrive at a group home.

It would allow her to be as independent as she could be, and would allow her to continue enjoying her friends and activities in Quincy.

"She is very, very social. She loves dancing and parties. She bowls with the Special Olympics," Cindy said. "She's very spiritual, attending the Church of St. Peter and the Spirit of Life through Blessed Sacrament."

Donna also gives back to the community by helping with Meals on Wheels and volunteering for organizations, including as a bell ringer for the Salvation Army during the holiday season.

Cindy says Donna and others like her deserve more from the state.

"They're taking money from people who have no voice," she said. "This is a right of life situation, it's not just a project. We've been there (lobbying in Springfield) three times and we're very frustrated. Basically they say, 'Yeah, yeah, we know' but nobody can make that commitment to help these people and the families of these people who need care and help in this situation.

"We desperately need the funding."

-- kwilson@whig.com/221-3391