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Operations Update | Nursing Corner | Photo Gallery

An Update from Advocates Life Skills and Learning Center

Warm weather is finally here with temperatures headed up each day! Thank you to everyone who joined us at Advocates See Me 5K Run, Walk, and Roll! More than 450 friends, families, colleagues, and community partners came together at the beautiful Hopkinton State Park to celebrate all abilities. It was wonderful to be together as a community once again. Check out the photos on Facebook.

88% of our friends are now back to onsite programming! Cooking programs are back in full swing with two curriculums: Cooking & Nutrition and Interaction with Food. Together, we work closely teaching cooking skills, understanding healthy foods, and finding recipes from around the world. Of course, the best part is tasting the finished product!

      

We’re making the most of the weather with outdoor programming, planting vegetables and flowers on the back patio, and enjoying games and sports in the backyard.

Daily Zoom programming continues three days a week through June 30, as well monthly home or door stop visits and phone call check ins. The Federal Public Health Emergency is extended through October 2022.

As you know, the workforce crisis is currently felt across so many industries including ours. Recruitment remains a top priority, and we recently hosted two career fairs and attend others in our local communities. Our amazing day services staff are committed to those we support, and we celebrate their dedication. We appreciate your outreach and advocacy around the continued need for enhanced funding to provide day services and support the staff that care for your loved ones.

Your feedback is valuable and helps us provide the best supports for your loved ones. Please take a moment to complete this brief Day Services satisfaction survey.

Looking forward to more sunny weather ahead!

 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Bardasz
Vice President of Developmental and Brain Injury Day Services

 

Operations Update

Update brought to you by Stephen Robery, Director of Operations

We welcome warm weather!

Gym Equipment

Our friends are staying active and healthy with access to three new treadmills and three new recumbent bikes recently added to our fleet of gym equipment!

Transportation

Double runs – Thankfully, the state has done away with most approved double runs. As a result, we have more members per route and slightly longer commutes on vans for some. Masks are still encouraged on the vans as a best practice.

PT-1s – Many of you continue to receive letters from MassHealth regarding expiring PT-1s. Please know that this is an automated letter generated by the state. We assure you that all members’ PT-1s are updated and current. Please disregard those automated letters.

Tours 

Tours are offered after program hours for families to learn more about Advocates Life Skills & Learning Center. We understand that many families want to see Day Services in action, however, we are still adhering to policies and safety precautions for visitors. As we continue to monitor this closely, we will keep you posted on any changes to tour availability.

 

 

Nursing Corner

Update brought to you by Emily Donahue, Senior Healthcare Coordinator

As we enter the warmer months, we’re reminding our friends about sun and heat safety, with lessons in our healthy living curriculum in the Choices program, activities on the activity schedule, and general reminders.

Sunblock and bug spray are available at the program at all times, and we encourage individuals to apply sunblock anytime they go outdoors.

Reminders

Please send us a copy of the vaccination record card for you loved one’s COVID-19 booster if they have received it! This is needed for their record on site.

As COVID-19 infection rates ebb and flow, we continue with our daily screening process. Please do your best to send a Screening Attestation form daily, as it helps us keep our arrival process flowing smoothly and allows individuals into the building quickly in the mornings.

Travel

We follow all guidelines for travel out of Massachusetts. If you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to quarantine and or schedule a test prior to your departure and upon your return. Please continue to fill out the day services travel form and send to Liz and I prior to your trip, alongside a copy of the vaccination card, if we do not have it.

Wellness Visits

As availability for doctor’s appointments opens up, we want to ensure that all individuals have had an annual physical within the last year. If you are unsure if you or your loved one has had a physical within the last year, please reach out to your physician’s office to check and schedule a physical or wellness telehealth visit when needed. You may be contacted by a program nurse if a copy of an updated physical is needed. Stay well!

 

Photo Gallery

      

      

   

About the Life Skills and Learning Center: Through our Day and Employment Services at the Life Skills & Learning Center, Advocates staff partners with adults who have disabilities and their families to customize experiences and activities uniquely suited to each person’s interests, skills, needs, and goals. Learn more at www.Advocates.org/LSLC.

Source: 
Advocates