Emily has come a long way since starting with Support Inc
in 2012. Her team is extremely proud of seeing her grow into the confident,
intelligent, and independent woman that she is today.
Emily has always wanted a job; in September, she finally
achieved her goal and started working at Clay and Glaze. She will be assisting
with clay projects, glazing and recycling. Before starting her new job, Emily
was sharpening her skills by helping Support Inc. sort out documents, shredding
and even learning how to work the copier and fax machine! Emily has also taken
on a leadership role in day program and assisting her peers whenever needed. In
addition to everything mentioned, Emily has become quite the fashionista! Often
setting trends with her peers in and outside of day program.
Way to go, Emily! We’re so proud of you and excited to watch your continued growth at Clay and Glaze!
We’re so excited to share the recording from our Clinical Webinar yesterday morning! If you missed it, please see the link below. Chris Sharkey, Jamy Wetzel-Little and Faith Wilkins join us for a discussion on what makes Support, Inc.’s Clinical Services unique! From our person-centered approach to trauma-informed care and consideration of heart rate variability, we take a closer look at our services and who could benefit from them. Following the lecture, we have another half hour of discussion for questions and feedback.
In this COVID-19
communication we will cover the following:
Omicron variant
Vaccine updates & booster dose clinic
COVID-19 Operating protocol update
COVID-19 Omicron variant
On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new variant, B.1.1.529, as a Variant of Concern and has named it Omicron. The first case of the Omicron variant was detected in the United States on December 1st. The individual, who is fully vaccinated, recently traveled internationally. The developed mild symptoms that are improving and has been in self-quarantine since symptoms developed. The WHO is working with researchers around the world to conduct studies to better understand the Omicron variant.
In previous communications we discussed that all viruses are
continually changing through mutations. A variant has one or more mutations
that are different from other variants in circulation. As expected, multiple
variants of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) have been documented across the globe.
Scientists compare the genetic differences between viruses to identify variants
and how they relate to each other. Variants are labeled using the Greek
alphabet (i.e. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, etc.) as way to identify and discuss
variants by non-scientific audiences. The CDC classifies variants into three
classifications, variant of interest (VOI), variant of concern (VOC) and
variant of high consequence (VOHC). The CDC has classified the Omicron variant
as a variant of concern (VOC).
The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and prevention strategies to protect against COVID19.
Vaccine updates & booster dose clinic
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends all adults
aged 18 and over get a COVID-19 booster shot. Individuals who received the
Moderna or Pfizer vaccine should get a booster dose 6 months or more following
their second dose. Individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
should get a booster dose 2 months or more following the initial vaccine.
Individual’s may choose which vaccine they receive for their
booster dose. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) allow for ‘mixing and matching’ the booster dose vaccine type.
Side effects of the booster shot are similar to the side effects after the
second dose series. The most common side effects are fatigue and pain at the
injection site. Most side effects are mild to moderate. To relieve side effects,
use or exercise the arm you got the shot in, drink plenty of fluids and apply a
cool washcloth to the injection site.
We have contacted our partners at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to request support to host a booster dose clinic. We hope to offer a booster dose clinic at our Aurora office after the new year. As we work with CDPHE to plan the clinic we will provide on-going updates.
COVID-19 Operating protocol update
We have updated our operating protocol and COVID-19
procedure to reflect the current guidance from Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE)
regarding the testing window following a known exposure. Individuals who are
unvaccinated should quarantine following a known exposure to COVID-19 and get
tested 5-7 days after the last date of exposure. Individuals who are fully
vaccinated and asymptomatic following a known exposure do not need to
quarantine but should wear a mask in public and get tested 5-7 days after the
last known exposure.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or your supervisor. We will continue to provide updates through email, our website and our Facebook page.
Thank you,
Laura Viers
Associate Director of Quality Assurance
T :: 970-667-7424
ext. 200
Jeremy Boudreaux has a lot to be thankful for this year. He is living independently in his own apartment, landed a job on his own and is planning a big Thanksgiving feast to celebrate.
Jeremy has Support, Inc. in his corner cheering him on and giving him the support he needs to live life on his own terms. Jeremy is 28 years-old and has mild intellectual disabilities. For the last seven years, Jeremy has worked with Support, Inc. and their team of caregivers that provide him with the help and support he needs, when he needs it – from integrated health care services and life skills development to access to community-based social activities and more. His team knows him well. When Jeremy decided he wanted to live independently in his own apartment, his team helped him identify and set goals that would help him make his dream a reality. By meeting each goal, Jeremy was able to make a safe transition from living with Host Home Providers to residing in his own apartment. Support, Inc. helps Jeremy remain safe, healthy and independent.
Jeremie has been enjoying apartment life for the last year with his dog, Zeus and his bearded dragon, Alex. His sister lives within walking distance. He loves cooking and honored his mom’s memory this Thanksgiving by cooking from her recipes. His Thanksgiving menu includes spinach casserole, cornbread casserole, green bean casserole, pecan pie and, of course, turkey with garlic and butter.
On Thursday, Jeremy visited with family in the early afternoon and served up his delicious side-dishes. Jeremy reports having a great time with his nephew and sister, Erika. Jeremy made a turkey and decided to leave it at his apartment for leftovers. This is “Italian style” turkey turned out well, and Jeremy plans to share the leftovers with his sister.
This year, Jeremy is grateful for his independence, his apartment, his job, his friends, his team, his dog Zeus, and his bearded dragon Alex. And we’re grateful to support Jeremy as he continues to thrive in the community!
Jeremy wants to share his story and let other people in similar situations know that, with the help of organizations like Support, Inc., they can live independently, too.
About Support, Inc.
With more than 32 years of experience, the Support, Inc. team offers a wide range of residential, day and clinical services to clients across the front range of Colorado. Support, Inc. has a unique, whole-person approach that allows caregivers to develop a deep understanding of each individual’s needs. As a Program Approved Service Agency (PASA), Support, Inc. is Medicaid certified and its programs are approved by the State of Colorado. Support, Inc. is redefining the life experience for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and is a leading provider of community-based solutions for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
If you know someone on the DD Waiver in needs of residential supports, please contact us at intake@supportinc.com.
In this
communication we will cover the following:
COVID-19 vaccine updates
Preparing for flu season during COVID-19
COVID-19 operating protocol updates
1. COVID-19 vaccine updates
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends certain
people to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose including those who received
Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen COVID-19 vaccines.
Individuals who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine: the
following groups are eligible and recommended to get a booster shot at 6 months
or more after their initial vaccine series.
People aged 65 and older
People aged 18-64 at high risk of severe
COVID-19
Medical conditions that may put people at higher
risk of severe COVID-19
Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
Chronic lung disease including COPD, asthma
(moderate to severe), interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary
hypertension.
Stroke or cerebrovascular disease which affects
blood flow to the brain
Substance use disorders (alcohol, opioids
cocaine use disorders)
People aged 18-64 whose frequent institutional
or occupational exposure to COVID-19 puts them at high risk. Occupations at
increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission include front line
essential workers and health care workers
Since risk can vary across settings and based on
how COVID-19 is spreading in a community, people aged 18-64 years who are at
increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational
or institutional setting may get a booster shot.
Individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine: anyone over
the age of 18 who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is recommended to
get a booster dose two months or more following the initial vaccine.
Individual’s may choose which vaccine they receive for their
booster dose. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) allow for ‘mixing and matching’ the booster dose vaccine type.
Side effects of the booster shot are similar to the side effects after the
second dose series. The most common side effects are fatigue and pain at the
injection site. Most side effects are mild to moderate. To relieve side
effects, use or exercise the arm you got the shot in, drink plenty of fluids
and apply a cool washcloth to the injection site.
If you or someone you support is eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster, speak with the primary care physician to determine when and where the person can receive their booster dose.
2. Preparing for flu season during COVID-19
It is important to get a flu vaccine because COVID-19 and
the flu may be circulating at the same time, and they cause similar symptoms.
You can get the COVID-19 vaccine with other vaccines, including the flu vaccine,
during the same visit.
Support, Inc. was proud to recently showcase it’s Host Home Provider services on Fox 31 News. Heather, Shaunti and Cathy were recently interviewed before Shaunti and Heather embark on their 6 week road trip across the country.
Behind the scenes at Fox31 News- 15 minutes before we went live!
Earlier this year 667 spots became available through Colorado’s developmental disability waiver program. For many eligible Coloradans – who have waited an average of 15 years – this means they are finally be able to access 24-hour community-based services, either at home or in host homes.
With more than 32 years of experience, Support, Inc. a leading provider of community based solutions is here and ready to help. Support, Inc. team offers a wide range of residential, day and clinical services to clients across the front range of Colorado. Support, Inc. has a unique, whole-person approach that allows caregivers to develop a deep understanding of each individual’s needs.
Support, Inc. is redefining the life experience for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Recently, we were thrilled to highlight one of our favorite Host Home matches, Shaunti and Heather. Heather has truly become a part of Shaunti’s family; since beginning their road trip, we have truly enjoyed their adventures from a vicarious standpoint, living through their photos and recent videos.
Check out a few photos from Heather, Shaunti and Brent’s road trip! To learn more information, please follow this link.
You can apply to become a Host Home Provider with Support, Inc. by applying at www.supportinc.com
And if you have a family member or a loved one searching for placement, please email us at placement.team@supportinc.com
Recently, our Day Program participants have enjoyed dressing up and getting outside for some Halloween fun! Lucas and Mikey, along with a few others, visited Nick’s Garden Center where they were able to check out the pumpkins and plants.
While we continue to offer services on-sight at our Day Program in Aurora, it’s the outings that we greatly look forward to. The people we serve have a chance to develop their skills, such as learning about new plants, counting back change at the register and socializing with others.
We’re grateful for the fun that was had at Nick’s Garden Center, thanks in part to our wonderful staff. Check out the photos below- for more information on our Day Services, please contact Cathy at cathy.kellogg@supportinc.com
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency
use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to allow for a single booster
to select populations. The booster dose is to be administered at least 6 months
after completion of the primary two dose series. The following individuals, if
they were initially vaccinated with Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, may get a
booster shot at this time.
People
aged 65 and older
People
aged 18-64 at high risk of severe COVID-19
Medical
conditions that may put people at higher risk of severe COVID-19
Cancer
Chronic
kidney disease
Chronic
lung disease including COPD, asthma (moderate to severe), interstitial
lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension.
Stroke
or cerebrovascular disease which affects blood flow to the brain
Substance
use disorders (alcohol, opioids cocaine use disorders)
People
aged 18-64 whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure to
COVID-19 puts them at high risk for serious complications of COVID-19
including severe COVID-19.
Occupations
at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission include front
line essential workers and health care workers in the following
positions:
First
responders (healthcare workers, firefighters, police, congregate care
staff)
Education
staff (teachers, support staff, daycare workers)
Food
and agriculture workers
Manufacturing
workers
Corrections
workers
U.S.
postal service workers
Public
transit workers
Grocery
store workers
At this time only the above individuals who received the
Pfizer vaccine are eligible for a booster dose. The decision to get a booster
dose should be made between the individual and their primary care physician.
Over time, we may see additional populations being recommended to receive a
booster dose as more data becomes available. People in the recommended groups
above who received Johnson & Johnson or Moderna may need a booster in the
future, more data on the effectiveness of booster doses with these manufactures
is being conducted. The need for a booster dose doesn’t mean the COVID-19
vaccines aren’t working. Current data continues to show all three COVID-19
vaccines are working to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death even
against the Delta variant. However, public health experts have started seeing a
reduced protection, especially among certain populations, against mild to
moderate disease.
If you or someone you support received the initial two dose
series of the Pfizer vaccine AND meet the criteria for a booster above, please
contact their primary care physician to discuss eligibility criteria and to
schedule a booster dose.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself or your supervisor. We will continue to provide updates through email, our website and our Facebook page.
Thank you, Laura Viers Associate Director of Quality Assurance
Please join us in congratulating our recent Host Home Provider of the Month, Diana and Kenny Wijaya!!!
The following write-up was produced by the Denver Metro Three Team: We would like to nominate Diana and Kenny for providers of the month. They have been HHP’s with Support since 2008 and a 3-bed home since 2014. They do such an amazing job that they set a high standard that other providers can look up to. It’s hard to know where to start in saying why these two providers deserve this award. Their file compliance is excellent and needs very little follow up (MAR’s are signed off when medication given and log notes completed according to Agency policy). They know all their individual’s needs very well and support them with the best services a provider can give. Appointments are made before the RPC even needs to ask or remind them and then it is put in Therap well advance of the appointment day. I truly appreciate the communication we have. They let us know right away when they need support or something is needed.
Beyond the incredible work they do with file compliance and taking care of medical needs is the individuals they serve. They provide wonderful access to the community. Kenny has taken D on trips out of state. One of our favorites was a trip to California, where D not only got to enjoy Disney Land but gong to the ocean for the first time. Rich will never forget when D moved into their home. It is a treasured moment working in the field. D was moved from a home that wasn’t supporting his needs and care was questionable. Rich remembers dropping off D at Diana and Kenny’s home and then going back to get the rest of his personal belongings. When Rich returned to Fnu’s home, D was sitting out of his wheelchair and in a recliner with his feet up and being pampered like a king. We knew D had found his home and has been with them ever since (over 10 years).
Rich only has one other individual in the home, but over the years has gotten to witness how the other 2 individuals’ quality of life has improved with the wonderful supports provided to them by Diana and Kenny!! Diane and Kenny, we want to say we appreciate all you do and have the upmost respect for the care you provide to the individuals you serve in your home.
At Support, Inc. we enjoy our weekend outings; when the
weather is warm and the air is clear, what better time to enjoy a trip to the
lake?
Richard Shaw looked forward to his annual trip with Jeremy and Mikey recently. For the last 5 out of 7 years, the boys would rent a cabin together and take a trip on the lake with a pontoon boat. Although the trip was cancelled last year due to COVID-19, Rich reports the group had a blast recently getting back together for a late-summer adventure.
Carter Lake, located near Fort Collins, offers a secluded feeling without being too far from civilization. Rich rent a pontoon for 3 hours, so the three of them could fish off the ledge. When asked how Jeremey and Mikey know each other, Rich replied, “They live in separate host homes, but they’ve know each other from BACPAC. Mikey and Jeremey used to participate in horse-back riding together. This eventually transformed into a camping event. They’ve known each other for over 10 years through various activities at Support, Inc.”
When the boys aren’t hanging out at the cabin or fishing on the lake, they’re shopping in downtown Estes Park. Jeremey and Mikey enjoy spending money in the downtown area, walking around and checking out the shops. Going out to eat is also a welcomed reprieve from the midday heat. From fishing and shopping to the overall sense of comradery, it’s the connections in this group that make the weekend trek well worth the trip.
Rich relays how excited Jeremey and Mikey were to catch up-this
marked their first face-to-face interaction in over two years. In the midst of
this pandemic, we fully support maintaining safe connections and increasing
supports for people with IDD. The friendship Mikey and Jeremey have developed
over the last 10 years is something we hope all of our People Receiving
Services (PRS) can achieve through the events that we host at Support, Inc.
We thank Rich for taking the time to make these trips happen, and we also thank our Host Home Providers (HHPs) for preparing Mikey and Jeremey as the weekend approached. It takes planning and dedication to gather supplies, medications and fishing gear for these weekend excursions; with the help of Linda Johnston and Jim Pendleton over the last 10 years, Rich has been able to provide valuable and meaningful life experiences to many folks in the IDD community, including Mikey and Jeremy.
We greatly appreciate the help of our staff and providers
that ensure our individuals have a fun and safe weekend. Although Rich
attributes most of the work to the HHPs, we wouldn’t have a successful BACPAC
program without Rich and our wonderful staff!
For similar events, keep an eye out for BACPAC
opportunities. We continue to closely monitor COVID-19 updates at the federal
and local levels. As such, health and safety remain the top priority. When
Support, Inc. is able to plan additional trips, we will most certainly share
details and information on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/supportinc1989
