HelpTEAM
How we can help
Parents and guardians of adults with disabilities accept the responsibility of caring for their loved ones, helping them to become as self-sufficient as possible. But as parents and guardians age, they face serious questions about ongoing life care arrangements for their loved ones. Who will help their loved ones when they are gone?
The HelpTEAM program at FFN-GC is designed to provide individualized in-home support services for participants with disabilities. HelpTEAM also facilitates individual and small group community engagement and recreational opportunities.
About HelpTEAM Participants
-
Participants in the HelpTEAM program are primarily self-pay and not already receiving regular services from publicly funded sources.
-
Participants should be skilled in all basic self-care areas including dressing, hygiene, toileting, mobility, nutrition, housekeeping, taking of medications, mental awareness, and controlled behavior. However the HelpTEAM program recognizes that some support in some of these areas may be needed from time to time.
-
Participants seek to be engaged in the community and with others to mitigate social isolation.
How It Works
An individualized service plan (ISP) will be developed with family, participant, and the HelpTEAM administrator and support staff. All interpersonal and social support needs will be included as part of the written ISP plan. Participants in the program can expect the following:
-
An ISP tailored to their needs.
-
Service hours with HelpTEAM support staff as needed.
-
With others, out in the community to mitigate social isolation.
-
Access to an emergency/special on-call service support system.
-
If there are needs that fall outside the scope of the HelpTEAM support staff, the HelpTEAM administrator will begin a review of alternative program services so that the participant receives the support they need.
Families need to start early
Early engagement, including writing an ISP, is important so that participants are not distressed as a parent or guardian ages out of their role as primary care-giver. HelpTEAM success and quality of outcomes depend on respect and patience in interactions among families, providers, and participants, as well as clear and civil communication.