Intake

Intake Department News & Updates

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Greetings from the Intake Department! We are excited to introduce you to our new team structure and provide an update on the Support Inc. Intake Team.

New Team Structure:

Director of Intake and Public Relations- Brian Slusarz

Lead Intake and Marketing Specialist- Cathy Kellogg

Intake Specialist- Cindy Cridlebaugh

Intake Specialist- Kristin Kemp

Intake Team Updates:

The Support Inc. Intake Team continues to work hard with a focus on bringing new individuals, families and providers into our wonderful services. Our job is to make the onboarding process into our services as seamless and as simple as possible. Are team is dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition with a heavy focus on customer service. Our new team structure, with added staff resources has hopefully, enhanced the customer experience when enrolling in our services.

In addition to the above core function, we continue to search for in-home respite providers! If you live anywhere along the Front Range and are open to providing respite in the family’s home, please email us at placement.team@supportinc.com. We also continue to recruit host home providers in Jefferson, Pueblo, El Paso, Larimer, Boulder, Weld, Washington, and Yuma counties. We are also searching for providers with behavioral experience. We will pay a one-time $300 referral bonus to anyone that refers friends or family to us! (For placements that last 90 days or longer). We are also providing sign on bonuses to HHPs in certain locations. Please visit Support, Inc. – Career Page (applytojob.com) for more information.

Lastly, the Intake Team is excited to announce the opening of our new office in Sterling, CO!!! We have been serving individuals and families in Northeastern Colorado for over a decade and we’re excited to finally have a physical location in Sterling. We will be hosting an Open House BBQ Party on June 13th. For more information, please contact info@supportinc.com

QA COrner

Quality Assurance News & Updates

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June is National Safety Month, and this year the focus is on safety in the workplace.

Preventing injuries at work.

  1. Have good lifting posture.
  2. Before lifting
    • Be aware of the object’s weight
    • Make sure the work environment is flat, dry, and debris-free
    • Check that the lift direction is straight
    • Take care of any tripping risks or debris
    • Look for any muddy or slippery areas
    • Make multiple trips, don’t try to do it all at one time
  3. During lifting
    • Never twist your torso while lifting
    • Stay “nose between your toes”
    • Never lift a heavy item above shoulder level
    • Never carry a load that obstructs your vision
    • Never hold your breath while lifting, moving, and setting the load down
    • Keep the load close to your waist for as long as possible
    • Adopt a stable position
    • Don’t flex your back any further while lifting
    • Avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways especially while your back is bent
    • Keep your head up when handling
    • Get a good handhold and do not twist while lifting
  1. Always follow standard precautions.
    • Standard precautions apply to the care of all people and are applied when there is a risk of exposure to (1) blood; (2) bodily fluids/secretions/excretions; (3) non-intact skin, and (4) mucous membranes.
    • Standard precautions include:
      1. Hand hygiene: wash hands frequently for at least 40-60 seconds.
      2. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) to serve as a barrier to protect skin, mucous membrane, airway, and clothing. This includes gloves, masks and gowns.
      3. Follow respiratory hygiene/ cough etiquette.
      4. Properly handle, clean and disinfect care equipment.
      5. Routinely clean and disinfect the environment.
      6. Follow safe injection practices.
  1. Prevent slips, trips, and falls. Falls can happen anywhere. Whether it’s working at heights or tripping on the same level, you always need to keep your eyes out for hazards.
    • Keep walkways and staircases clear.
    • Practice good cord management! Secure cords and when needed, tape down power cords and cables to prevent tripping.
    • Clean up spills and messes promptly.
    • Ensure there is proper lighting.
    • Keep floors clean and dry.
  2. Be prepared for an emergency.
    • The 1st week of June is national CPR & AED awareness week. Delivering first aid quickly and effectively can be lifesaving as every second counts when someone has lost consciousness. CPR/FA training must be renewed every 2 years, to find a class near you use this link.
    • Have basic supplies: water, flashlight, first aid kit, extra batteries, radio, etc.
    • Be prepared for natural disasters, listen to EAS, NOAA weather radio or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.
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Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month!

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May is Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month! Diane Sheeran has been with Support Inc for over a decade and living with her current Host Home Provider (HHP) for over 5 years. Dianne has a diagnosis of Prader-Willi Syndrome, and her Siblings would like to share a positive story and resources for anyone with or supporting a loved one with this diagnosis.

Prader-Willi Syndrome Association USA – Supporting Families
https://www.pwsausa.org/

PWSA | USA’s Residential Providers Conference – Prader-Willi Syndrome Association | USA. This is info on a Residential Providers Conference Aug 18-Aug 20 In-person and Virtual
https://www.pwsausa.org/event/pwsa-usas-residential-providers-conference/

“A positive story is Diane’s success with Support Inc, RPC Richard Shaw and HHP. Richard was with us before our mom passed. Mom pretty much overruled many suggestions and only allowed certain things to happen. Diane could go very few places in public, yet alone to a grocery store or restaurant. Diane only lasted a few months with the first HHP. It was her first time as an HHP so had no experience with anyone, yet alone a person with a diagnosis of Prader-Willi and definitely not Diane! When her HHP was first introduced to her, Di was coming out of the hospital, weighed over 285 lbs, diabetic, diagnosed with congestive heart failure and was given 6 months to live if there were not drastic changes. HHP had a plan, said it will take time, but she needed the family support, so we gave her our 100% support. Now admittedly at times there were questions and concerns, I’m sure HHP had them too, haha, but the results became apparent quickly. Diane is in the best health she has ever been because of her current HHP”.
-Tim Sheeran

“Richard has been with us for so long, he is like part of the family! He knows the family, our quirks and uniqueness. I remember the time Diane was in a play sponsored by Support Inc. and Richard and I just stood there sobbing as Diane actually participated and was so proud of herself. He’s been with us and helped us navigate the death of our mother and again at the death of our brother from COVID.

I can’t express enough gratitude to the HHP for opening her home to accept Diane. We fondly call her Saint HHP. There was more than one time I was sure we would be hunting for a new provider, but HHP would come back and say she and the boys discussed it and they wanted Diane to come back to their home. Prader- Willi Syndrome is very difficult as it changes the life and patterns of everyone living with the person. HHP and her family had to make drastic changes to help Diane. The current HHP has learned how to control Diane’s food and behavior issues but still let’s Diane be Diane! I am so grateful to Matt for being adamant that we enrolled Diane into Support Inc services when we did. There is not a cure for PWS but thanks to the HHP and Support, Inc Diane does have a quality life.”
-Linda Sheeran

QA COrner

QA Department News & Updates

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Over the Counter (OTC) Medications:

We would like to give a reminder about over the counter (OTC) medications. This could include scheduled medications such as Zyrtec, Claritin, Vitamins, eyedrops or it could be as needed (PRN) medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Neosporin, etc. When purchasing these items for the person(s) you support please make sure you label the medication and the box with the person’s full first and last name. Because these items usually aren’t being filled by the pharmacy they will not come labeled with the person’s name. The labeling of these medications is a regulatory requirement.

For PRN medications, if the person(s) you support has a prescription medication ordered PRN, such as inhaler, rescue seizure medication, etc. you need to always have these medications available in the home. For over-the-counter PRN medications such as Tylenol, Robitussin, Milk of Magnesia, etc. we do not expect you to have these available in the home. These over-the-counter medications are likely to expire before you need to use them, and they are easy to get when they are needed from any local grocery store or retail pharmacy.

Please reach out to info@supportinc.com if you have any questions.

Nursing

Nursing Department News & Updates

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The nursing department recently conducted a webinar that outlined nursing services through Support Inc. To watch the webinar, and learn more about our innovative, outstanding nursing services, please watch the video below.

Nurse Team Webinar (youtube.com)

The Support Inc. nursing team has also gone through recent staff changes. check out the department below:

Morgan Struck (RN)- Associate Director of Nursing

Erin Gordan (RN)- Nurse Case Manager

Lauren Reed (RN)- Nurse Case Manager

Jamie Weidman- Medical Coordinator

Nicole Jordan- Medical Coordinator

QA COrner

QA Department News & Updates

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Changes to the individual service & support plan (ISSP):

If you’ve joined our provider town hall meetings you’ve heard about the many changes happening in the IDD system in Colorado. With all these changes, our regulations also needed to be updated. While there are many changes to our regulations, we want to take some time to talk about one major change to the individual services and support plan (ISSP) goals. Case Managers are no longer required to add ISSP goals to the service plan. Additionally, provider agencies are no longer required to develop and track formal ISSP goal programs. This has been a core function of the IDD system for many years and will take us some time to fully phase it out of our operating practices. We are still required to demonstrate that we are supporting people to achieve their goals. We will be doing the following over the next several months:

  1. We will work to discontinue current ISSP programs.
  2. We will stop checking ISSP requirements as part of our internal auditing beginning March 2024.
  3. By June 2024, we will solidify a plan to address how we demonstrate supports being provided to help people achieve their goals.
  4. We will remove the ISSP requirement across our internal tools over the next several months.
HHP of month image

January Host Home Provider of the Month

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Please join us in congratulating the January Host Home Providers of the month- Agnes and Ron!! They were nominated by the Denver Metro 2 Team and Residential Coordinator, Jillian. This month marks one year of Jillian meeting Agnes and Ron and it has been an absolute pleasure working with them. They do an incredible job of taking care of three individuals who all have high medical needs, while continuously balancing their focus and care for each one of them. It’s clear that our person receiving services (PRS) is taken care of with nothing but unconditional love and support. Our PRS has a contagious smile and seeing him light up every time he looks at Agnes and Ron is the sweetest thing to witness. No matter the task or responsibility, Agnes and Ron work as a team to make sure they are on top of everything. They are always prepared and proactive and continue to advocate for the person receiving services. Agnes and Ron are incredible when it comes to monitoring the PRS’s health, making sure to notify me every step of the way so we are always on the same page. After a year of getting to know them, Agnes and Ron are not only great providers who make the PRS feel like another member of the family, but also two fantastic people with the kindest hearts. Agnes and Ron, I have nothing but appreciation and respect for the care you provide, thank you for all that you do! Congratulations on being named Host Home Providers of the Month!!!

 

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Ryan Takes on Colorado!

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Today we would like to recognize one of our Family Caregivers (FCG), Yuko, and her son Ryan. Yuko is an exceptional FCG who cares deeply for her son and his health. Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure that he is happy and healthy. Yuko credits a healthy diet and the level of involvement in community and extracurricular activities to the low level of medications that he takes every day. Ryan enjoys staying active and doing fun things with his friends and family. Ryan works very hard to accomplish his healthy active lifestyle goals. Every year he trains for Special Olympics bicycling in the 25k and 10k races. He also enjoys skiing, camping, going out to eat and playing games with friends and family, traveling to places like Hawaii, attending sports games, the ballet, swimming, indoor rock climbing and going to the mountains to see the leaves changing. Yuko and her husband work very hard to ensure that Ryan has access to all of the activities he enjoys! Yuko spends countless hours researching and scheduling. If you ever get the chance to meet Ryan the love and attention that his family shows him is obvious by the giant smile on his face! Keep up the exceptional work Yuko and Ryan!