At the House 2017

At the House Programming Our primary goals in caring for those we support is to ensure their safety, nurture talents and build skills. In order to achieve these goals we work with the families, day programs and other team members to develop a comprehensive set of documents and outcomes including: •

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A comprehensive Risk Management Plan o This document is a compilation of information about the individual’s potential for risk in various situations. This plan not only informs staff and team members of risk, it also provides guidance about how to avoid, and respond, if necessary to those risk situations.

Functional Skills assessment o This document serves as a supplement to the Risk Management Plan, but focuses more on capabilities versus risks. This plan informs team members about the individual’s specific needs in various situations and informs them about the type of interactions and assistance that should be provided.

Individual Service Plan o We work with the county social worker to ensure that an updated Individual Service Plan is in place and implemented.

Formal Outcomes o We work with families and other team members to assess areas for skillbuilding. Upon identifying these areas, we work together to develop outcomes that will assist the individual in building these skills. We track data on these outcomes to assist in the evaluation of these skills and determine the level of success. These outcomes are updated as needed, depending on a number of factors including success rate, participation and relevance.

Informal Outcomes o Also the result of discussions with families and team members, informal outcomes are designed to aid in maintaining skills. These are mainly used to ensure that certain activities that the individual is able to complete independently are occurring regularly.

These programs are developed by the team beginning at the 45-day meeting which is scheduled to allow for time for your loved one to move and get settled in their new home.

It also allows time for team members to assess any new needs that may arise as a result of moving to a new setting. As with all communication, your input on these documents and outcomes is encouraged.

Emergency Protocol All staff members are trained in Hammer’s procedures regarding handling emergencies. If an emergency takes place when managers and directors can’t be reached, Hammer has an emergency cell phone which is carried by one of the Program Directors at all times. Our staff members are directed to call the emergency cell phone if they are having trouble getting help. Also, while we try to deal with all feasible issues internally, staff will not hesitate to call 911 if the situation calls for it.

What Happens When an Individual is Sick, Between Jobs, or Retired?

If your family member is not feeling well enough to go to his/her typical daytime activity and needs to stay home we will provide the appropriate staffing necessary. We have fulltime nurses who can come to help determine what care is necessary for him/her as needed. If your family member is between jobs or is retired we have a program where he/she is able to go during the day for recreation and leisure activities.

Housemates While everyone at Hammer has the choice to have his/her own room, we work very hard to ensure good housemate compatibility within our programs as well. We are committed to the following: • •

Encouraging the people we support and their families to be involved in the selection process of housemates Evaluating every possible housemate situation in partnership with the people we support and their families

Despite our best proactive efforts, conflicts can come up between housemates at any time. We have, on occasion, moved people around within the Hammer community when a conflict requires such action.

Household Upkeep It is our belief that the homes/apartments belong to those living there and that our staff member’s role is to act as their support. Therefore, all the tasks that are involved in keeping a home running must be done by those individuals as much as possible. We encourage those living in the program to be as involved as they can be in caring for all aspects of their home life, including laundry, cooking and housecleaning. Each program has a budget for grocery and cleaning supplies.

We will develop a program that works with the individual’s abilities. If an individual is not capable of doing a job themselves, a staff member will work with them to help improve or maintain their abilities. We also have a maintenance crew who can be called to the houses as needed. Maintenance issues are prioritized but in most cases, handled in the order in which they are received.

Recreation Hammer has a community supports manager who is responsible for communicating to all of our program staff about recreation and leisure activities going on in the area. Activities that take place at the office include bingo, movies, arts and crafts, etc. Hammer also has a bowling league that runs for 8 weeks at Texatonka Lanes in the spring. Individuals are able to choose which activities they enjoy and would like to participate in with the assistance of staff. All recreation opportunities are posted on Hammer’s Intranet and all staff members have access to recreation information.

Church Many of the individuals we support have a church they attend regularly. Hammer has a relationship with many churches in the area as well as volunteers who are able to drive individuals to and from churches. We do our best to keep these relationships strong and will assist in finding a church community if individuals are in need of assistance. If the individual’s staff schedule does not allow their staff to take them to church, we will try to coordinate with a volunteer. Families are also encouraged to bring their loved ones to the church of their choice.

Transportation All of our homes have a designated car or van. Our staff members provide transportation to and from activities whnever scheduling allows this. Sometimes there is not a Hammer car available, our staff members must use their own vehicles. When they use their own vehicles, they document the miles they’ve driven and get reimbursed accordingly. Staff members also get reimbursed for their expenses when taking an individual on any kind of activity that costs money.

Most individuals work with day program or job placement companies; transportation to work or day programs is provided by the company they work with.

Some individuals can also sign up for their own rides through Plymouth Link, Metro Mobility or the local bus serve. If a someone uses these services, they are responsible for the costs.

Security Keyless entry systems have been installed in each home to better ensure the security of our homes. All of our employees and most of the individuals have a badge. Before entering a home, they ‘wave’ their badge in front of the keyless entry sensor. This gives us the ability to control access for all card holders at any time or unlock doors remotely from the main office via the Internet.

Fire Protection Fire alarm systems in the homes are monitored by a security company and are directly linked to the fire department. If the alarm is tripped, it immediately calls a central monitoring company that notifies the fire and police departments, who then respond to the call. These systems are checked regularly by our maintenance staff as well as annually by the fire marshal. Additionally, Hammer staff perform fire drills on a regular basis.

Household Menus In the interests of providing individuals with a healthy variety of meal options, we contract with a registered dietician to assist with the development of our menus. These menus rotate on a quarterly basis and considerations are made for various dietary needs. Our dietician creates plans for individuals with specific needs such as reduced sodium, reduced calorie, reduced cholesterol, etc. Of course, we recognize there is always an element of choice

regarding meal planning, so occasionally changes or substitutions might be made to suit individuals’ specific tastes or preferences.

Holiday Planning Scheduling staff time for holidays can be a challenging process. We ask that family members inform us of your holiday plans as much in advance as possible, but request a minimum of two weeks’ notice regarding your holiday plans. This will enable us to figure out if we need staff scheduled or if the house will be closing during a particular holiday.

Visits from Family & Friends We believe that family interaction and involvement is critically important for the individuals we serve and we encourage families to feel welcome in our programs. We welcome all families to visit, join us for dinner, participate in outings and in general become an involved member of our community. In the interest of scheduling, we do ask that family members provide at least a moderate notice so that housemates can be prepared and staff can make sure your family member is available and not otherwise engaged.

State of the House Meetings Hammer programs enjoy hosting an annual “State of the House Meeting.” These meetings offer a wonderful opportunity for the personality of the household to “shine” and for families, individuals, staff and management to come together as a team and plan for success in the coming year. These meetings are typically held at the house, except when the group is too large. State of the House Meetings vary from program to program, but usually involve a presentation from the manager or director, input from our executive team and involvement by the individuals who live in the home/apartment.

End of Life Issues Our end of life mission statement is: “It is Hammer’s intention to foster an open culture which recognizes and supports all phases of life. For those we serve, their end of life planning will be compassionate and personalized, guiding all involved in the process with dignity and respect.”

Hammer recognizes that our needs change as we age and we work hard to handle these changes in a graceful manner. We are not afraid to modify our services or resources to be able to serve people throughout their entire life. We will do this with the support of families, medical professionals and hospice services whenever appropriate.