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PLAN Examples
How
does the PLAN concept translate into practice? Read on! (Names
have been changed to protect confidentiality)
- Miriam
is a 40 year old woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder who
recently moved into her own apartment after living at home
since the onset of her illness 15 years ago. In addition
to the challenges involved in managing a place of her own,
she lost her part time job when the business closed and
faced not only unemployment, but a life without the safety
net of Social Security benefits. PLAN helped her file for
unemployment, supported her as she searched for a new job,
and advocated for her at the Social Security office (which
resulted in a negation of the back pay she owed there and
reinstatement of her monthly benefit payments and Medicare).
Miriam now calls PLAN whenever she needs help with the laborious
bureaucracy of negotiating the benefits and mental health
systems, but also calls with questions about things like
renter's insurance, medical care, pet care, and painting
classes. PLAN personnel see her every other week whether
something's problematic for her or not to ensure continued
good rapport with her. Miriam's long term plan is centered
around her wishes and desires for the future, which include
continued recovery, good health, and a peaceful life, and
includes the provision that PLAN assist her with her goals
when her parents no longer can. The trust her family has
in place for her future will ensure that funds underwrite
an enhanced quality of life in the future that includes
money for things like yoga, painting, and wellness classes,
vacations, and exercise equipment.
- Jenna's
parents are in their late sixties and have just arranged
the ideal residential placement for their daughter, who
has mental retardation and severe behavior problems. A long
time resident of institutional environments, Jenna's behavior
and attitude improved dramatically when she moved to a supported
living apartment of her own, with stable 24 hour staff.
Jenna's parents worked long and hard to advocate for such
an arrangement for Jenna and want to ensure that someone
advocates for a continuation of such in the future. They
turned to PLAN to advocate for her continued high quality
residential care in the future: Jenna's plan dictates that
PLAN staff monitor the quality of her direct care staff,
supported living provider, and home environment long term.
In addition, Jenna's parents are adamant about some things
related to annual residential and vocational goals. For
example, although the issue of bus training comes up in
annual meetings every year, Jenna's parents are sure this
is a bad idea for her. They've explained they can see Jenna
doing well in training but when left to her own devices
afterward, being very unsafe on the bus. PLAN staff can
make sure, through Jenna's Long Term Plan, that this issue,
and others like it, is not forgotten in meetings if her
parents are absent.
- Lance
sustained a brain injury six years ago and his life changed
dramatically. Although his cognitive abilities remain intact,
his lack of focus and energy following the brain injury
has made it impossible for him to manage his life on his
own. Most of his family live in town, but have their own
lives, problems, and issues and above all, Lance does not
want to be a burden to them. Lance contacted and contracted
with PLAN as his own representative recently, and completed
a Long Term Plan of Care that requires PLAN to arrange for
his medical appointments, speak with his attorneys on his
behalf, coordinate his rehabilitative care, accompany him
to support meetings, monitor his direct care staff, and
manage his medication refills with the pharmacy. After speaking
with Lance and his family, doctor, and rehabilitation team,
PLAN staff completed an analysis of the housing options
available to him, including living with family, moving to
an assisted care facility or group home, renting an accessible
apartment, or purchasing a home or condominium. The analysis
included the pros and cons of each option, taking into account
Lance's goals, his financial situation, his abilities, and
needs. Together, they were able to make an informed choice
about his housing. PLAN helped Lance protect his long term
benefit interests by helping him secure his accident settlement
money in an appropriate trust, and informed his family of
ways they could leave assets to him without jeopardizing
his benefits as well. Lance functions as independently as
possible at this point and wants it to continue this way
for him in the future. With PLAN's help, his hopes of increasing
his independence in the future are a real possibility.
- Jason
just turned 50 and has been refusing medication prescribed
for his paranoid schizophrenia for about 20 of those years.
He lives an isolated existence in his own apartment and
sees his mother (aged 82) every other weekend for a few
hours. He has no friends, shuns contact with public mental
health case workers in his area, and gets into trouble in
the community when he misunderstands others' intentions
toward him. Because Jason's mother was not sure he'd ever
accept PLAN involvement in his life, PLAN personnel constructed
a series of short term plans designed to build rapport with
him and assess the feasibility of PLAN's long term involvement
with him. At this point, things are looking good for the
relationship: Jason routinely calls and visits with PLAN
staff, has accepted their offer of help to communicate with
his landlord, his doctors, and his housing representative,
and has even agreed to work with a psychiatrist on medication
issues. Recently, Jason initiated a request for PLAN assistance
on his own (a huge step forward for a man so distrusting)
- he called to see if PLAN staff could accompany him to
the phone company to dispute charges on his bill. Jason's
mother was thrilled to discover there WAS someone her son
could count on in the future, an entity he was willing to
work with especially given her failing health. Jason's mother
recently completed a Long Term Plan for him that relates
to seeing he stays in contact with someone who can monitor
his health and housing placement, encourage his taking medication,
and overseeing his budget. Jason has his own ideas about
the relationship, however, as he now counts on PLAN staff
to play tennis with him and eat out occasionally.
Quotes from PLAN Satisfaction Surveys
What
sort of impact does PLAN have on families? Read for yourselves!
"My
son is responding to the interaction between the PLAN personnel
and himself. The aim I had when I engaged the services of
PLAN was to see some glimmer of personality and warmth manifest
itself in his demeanor. This is happening." (family member)
"I
like that they listen to me and they are very understanding"
(beneficiary)
"We
like the fact that there is a friendly relationship with our
family member and the primary and secondary PLAN contacts.
They have taken he time to get to know our family member.
Their suggestion are based on the needs and desires of our
family member - not just "by the book" case study type responses.
The guidance and support we received during the process of
our family member's qualification for MRDD services was invaluable.
The opportunities for various recreation actives contributes
to our family member's quality of life." (family member)
"We
are very grateful for all of the help received through our
connection with PLAN!" (family member)
"Seems
to be a very good personality match. My family member feels
very comfortable with PLAN personnel. Our family member is
moving ahead - apartment hunting, checking in job possibilities,
etc. The burden is off me and this is good for both me and
my family member." (family member)
"You're
doing great - keep it up" (family member)
"My
family member is more outgoing" (family member)
"When
our son faces a new problem, he feels like he can confide
in them. When we are out of town, he has them" (family member)
"PLAN
has given me confidence in meeting and interacting with people
rec program activities. They have helped me understand things."
(beneficiary)
"The
contact between agencies has been better with PLAN's involvement.
Action has resulted faster due to PLAN's intervention" (family
member)
"We
feel that our family member has become familiar with the PLAN
staff (and they with him) so if something were to change with
regard to the parental connection (like death), he would readily
accept the parental surrogacy PLAN would offer" (family member)
"PLAN
gives families and consumers hope for the future" (family
member)
"A
lot of my services have been cut and with PLAN's availability
and support and activities, it helps fill the gap" (beneficiary)
"With
the slate of problems and handicaps possessed by each son,
each has seemed to fall through the cracks. There are agencies
out there, but we have fought a fight which mostly has resulted
in closed doors. Needless to say, we are realistic parents
who aren't looking for miracles, but this is the first time
we have felt a sense of hope" (family member)
"We
are grateful for PLAN and feel supported and hopeful because
of PLAN" (family member)
"I
like having a consistent guidance and positive role models
to help me be an more independent person" (beneficiary)
"The
thing I like best about PLAN's involvement with me is friendship"
(beneficiary)
"I
like PLAN pretty much" (beneficiary)
"PLAN
staff have been coming to my casemanager appointments with
me. It helps because I wouldn't understand half the stuff
my case manager is saying about moving into an apartment.
She also has come to my psychiatrist's office two times when
I needed encouragement" (beneficiary)
"I
like meeting other clients through group activities and getting
to know new people" (beneficiary)
"They
have encouraged me to get out and make more social contacts"
(beneficiary)
"The
PLAN staff have always been there when I needed to talk about
a problem. Both of them are very good listeners and have helped
me very much" (beneficiary)
"I
like working with the PLAN staff. They have helped me make
the transition into my new apartment go smoothly by helping
me make a cleaning schedule. They also gave me tips on how
to use my cleaning supplies as well as how to help keep the
apartment neat" (beneficiary)
"PLAN
has really helped me and improved my quality of life in the
last year" (beneficiary)
"PLAN
has wisely proceeded at a pace of involvement with my family
member that has been more promising than I envisioned. My
family member trusts no one instinctively and PLAN has factored
this into their approach and has gained his attention" (family
member)
"PLAN
is responsive not only to my family members needs, but also
to mine. PLAN staff listen carefully to my concerns and observations
and are astute in their recommendations. I particularly appreciate
their reporting of progress and perceptions after they meet
with my family member" (family member)
©2005 PLAN of Southwest Ohio, Inc.
11223 Cornell Park Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45237
(513)821-6111 or (513)496-1195 (fax)
E-Mail: planofsouthwestoh@fuse.net
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