During your training you will have the opportunity to be taught by the core members as well as other assistants how to best support each other. Part of this process includes shadowing, and later being shadowed, sharing time on routines.
Personal Care and Aging:
A variety of personal care needs exists; some core members need full support in bathing/brushing teeth/etc., while others do so independently. This support could include the use of adaptive equipment such as a walker or wheelchair. Assistants in certain homes are expected to provide support across gender. All core members have medications that are distributed by trained assistants. We are homes for life, which means accompanying core members and adapting to their needs as they age, through the end of their lives, if that’s what they choose.
Dinner Preparation:
Assistants and core members are often scheduled to be co-chefs. When preparing dinner, the pair will often consider many things, i.e. portions, people’s likes/dislikes, allergies, dietary needs, number of guests, etc.
Relationships & Mediation:
Within a person’s life, there are many relationships to enjoy and navigate. Some core members have formal and informal behavior support plans to support those relationships. A core member may need the support of an assistant to plan for the practical pieces of
keeping in touch and growing in those relationships.
Goals, Finances, Medical:
Several systems are in place to ensure that a core member is living the life they desire. These supports include things like annual goal-setting meetings, keeping track of finances, planning for savings and vacations, scheduling medical appointments, accompanying and following up with medical needs, etc.