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Support Inc. Client Featured in Local Art Show!

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Café Show by Local Artist and Support, Inc. client- Maria

Maria has many talents. She is an athlete, baker, dancer, skilled with animals and very charismatic. She is also a prolific painter, using art therapy as one way to calm her busy mind. While flamingos in funny situations are a common theme, she also paints other marine life, horses, flowers, holiday settings and landscapes.

During the month of October, Maria was the featured artist at the French Press Café in her neighborhood on Iliff near Buckley. If you have not been there, they have the regular coffee and tea-related faire, as well as an incredible kitchen. (Their chilaquiles are THE BOMB!) Maria’s paintings covered an entire wall, which is really saying something in the small space the café holds. She wrote her own bio, which had a lovely photo of her with a horse attached and even sold two paintings!

Maria’s accomplishments are a source of pride for herself, her family and our community. Here’s to the next show where we have our eye on a certain flamingo wearing a pool floaty and carrying a cocktail. Congratulations to Maria on this amazing accomplishment!

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Family Caregiver Town Hall

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Please join our Operations Team on November 30th, 11am for our Family Caregiver Town Hall. This meeting will occur virtually on Zoom. The agenda is filled with updates regarding Support, Inc., and Pueblo Community Resources news, as well as reminder for upcoming events, staff appreciation and recognition, and an opportunity to connect and ask questions. For more information and the zoom link please contact info@supportinc.com

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Quality Assurance News and Updates

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As summer ends and cold weather settles in so comes cold and flu season. Colorado has also seen an increase in COVID-19 cases. Protect yourself, the person you serve and your family. As a reminder, please do not send people to work or day program if they are sick. If people arrive to day program/work showing signs of illness, you will be asked to pick the person up.

Healthy habits to help protect against illness:

  1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  2. Stay home when you are sick. Please do not send people to work or day program if they are sick.
  3. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
  4. Wash your hands often to protect yourself from germs.
  5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  6. Practice other good health habits such a cleaning and disinfecting.
  7. Getting a flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine. Contact your primary care physician, local pharmacy or use Colorado’s get vaccinated website to find vaccine providers near you.
Recent News

CJ Rocks Out to Guns N’ Roses!

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Forget Moves Like Jagger, You Want Moves Like CJ!

Support Inc. Residential Coordinator, Jennifer, went to see individual in services, CJ, in October just like any regular, monthly Home Visit, but he was not just any regular old CJ. He was so excited for the next day that he could not stop grinning. Jennifer has seen CJ many times when he is looking forward to something like a trip to see his family, a dinner at Olive Garden with his girlfriend or even a day at Elitch Gardens, but this was the happiest, most excited she had ever seen him. The next night he was going to see Guns N’ Roses in concert at Ball Arena with his buddy from church. He told his Host Home Provider that he might not come home until after 1:30 in the morning because he would be too busy rockin’. They talked about his favorite song, “Welcome to the Jungle” and there was no convincing him that “Sweet Child of Mine” was better. The next afternoon, Jennifer called CJ to see how the concert went. It was obvious even over the phone that he was still smiling from ear to ear. While he didn’t stay out until the wee hours, he still had an amazing time and said he definitely “rocked out”. When she asked him if he did the famous side to side sway move of lead singer Axel Rose, CJ scoffed and said, “No, I’ve got way better moves than that.” With as happy as he was, that must be true.

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The Family Caregiver Program

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SUPPORT, INC. HELPS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH INNOVATIVE SERVICES THROUGH THE FAMILY CAREGIVER PROGRAM

Aurora, COLO. – October 2023 – Family Caregiver, Dena Lucero cares for her daughter, Tatum, with assistance from Support, Inc., a leading provider of support services for individuals with developmental disabilities. As a part of Support, Inc.’s Family Caregiver Program, the Lucero family receives comprehensive support and financial compensation. The program is designed to recognize and empower family members as caregivers for their loved ones.

The Family Caregiver Program under the Family Caregiver Act acknowledges the dedication and sacrifice made by family caregivers who have been providing care without financial compensation or formal supports. In recognition of their essential contribution, Support, Inc. offers caregivers the opportunity to receive financial compensation and access to formal supports through the program.

“From my first contact with Support, Inc. it has been an amazing experience. The team is so friendly, easy going and open,” says Lucero. “I can’t stress enough what a gift Support Inc. has been to Tatum and our family. It has given us the ability to pay an additional caregiver of our choosing. It is such a relief to be able to provide the care that we find suitable for our daughter, while we continue to work.”

Tatum has mild intellectual disabilities. Lucero serves as Tatum’s primary family caregiver. Support, Inc. gives them access to an additional team of caregivers to provide Tatum with the help and support she needs, when she needs it – from integrated health care services and life skills development to access to community-based social activities and more.

“Support, Inc. understands the challenges and pressures that family caregivers face each day,” said Bentley Smith, CEO at Support, Inc. “We believe that caregivers should be recognized for their invaluable work and have access to the necessary support and compensation they deserve. Our Family Caregiver Program aims to alleviate the stress and burden on caregivers, ensuring they can continue to provide the highest quality care while maintaining their own well-being.”

The Family Caregiver Program offers numerous benefits to support caregivers and their loved ones, including:

Flexibility and Customized Care:

Caregivers have the maximum flexibility to create their own care plans, including the option to be compensated themselves or have a family member compensated for providing care. They can also choose to hire non-family members to provide care. Support, Inc. ensures that each plan is tailored to meet the unique needs and preferences of the family.

Comprehensive Support:

The program provides residential supports, respite care options, and additional resources to meet the individual needs of each family caregiver. These comprehensive supports help to alleviate the burden on caregivers and enhance the well-being of both the caregiver and their loved one.

Training and Professional Development:

Support, Inc. provides caregivers with simple and clear training options at no cost in order to improve their skills. This emphasis on training contributes to the overall quality of care provided and is also a professional development opportunity for caregivers, empowering them to learn and grow.

Competitive Compensation and Benefits:

Support, Inc. values the commitment and dedication of family caregivers and offers a competitive pay rate, and access to a comprehensive employment benefits plan. This ensures that caregivers receive fair compensation for their important work, providing financial stability and security.

24-Hour Support Line:

The program includes a 24-hour after-hours support line, ensuring that caregivers have access to assistance and guidance whenever they need it most. This round-the-clock support gives caregivers peace of mind, knowing that help is always available.

“Here at Support, Inc., we encourage family caregivers throughout Colorado, to explore our creative Family Caregiver Program and take advantage of the comprehensive support and compensation available to them” says Smith.

For more information on the Family Caregiver Program, become a paid family caregiver or inquire about eligibility, please contact Brian Slusarz at info@supportinc.com or click here to complete our contact form.

With more than 33 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.

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Day Services News & Updates

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Aurora Day Program:

The Support Inc. Aurora Day Program is doing well and continuing to accept new individuals and growing the day program. The team is working hard to integrate into the community and provide creative, fun activities for individuals in services. The individuals and staff are having a great time on these outings. Some recent activities include, going to parks, Wendy’s, a splash park, the air and space museum and the butterfly pavilion!! Contact info@supportinc.com if you are interested in learning more about our day program.

Community Based Day Services:

We continue to work hard to provide community based Direct Support Professionals (DSP) to our individuals in services. We have a dedicated staff person focused on this job. She reports that we are currently thriving in the DSP field, as we have hired some quality staff recently. They also met with HR & Intake with a focus on improving our DSP onboarding process. Critical meet & greets with DSPs and the people we serve are going really well! Our dedicated DSP Supervisor attends every internal team meeting to get the needs met, and happy to say we’ve taken a handful of needs off our “needs list’ recently! On another positive note, we have an individual who is simply thriving with his new DSP. Since the DSP has been working with him, he has really come out of his shell. He’s communicating verbally more, he’s more attentive, and he is more willing to participate in activities! He loves working with his DSP and looks forward to their visits :).

 

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Global Down Syndrome Foundation Eye Care & Vision Conference

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The GLOBAL Down Syndrome Foundation Eye Care & Vision in Down Syndrome Conference will occur August 17th and 19th in Denver/Aurora!

Calling all medical professionals, family members and self-advocates— Register now for this FREE first-in-kind conference providing the latest updates and best practices for eye care and vision for children and adults with Down syndrome. Nationally recognized experts Drs. Emily McCourt and Michael Puente will be presenting two conferences opportunities, one for Medical Professionals on Aug 17th with CMEs, and one for family members/self-advocates on Aug 19th. All your questions about eye health and vision will be answered! Free parking, drinks and a sumptuous three-course meal included! Register using the link below.

https://www.globaldownsyndrome.org/eye-and-vision-professional-conference/