Our long-term care homes provide our residents with many benefits of living in a community. Each program hosts staffing patterns, routines, activities and environments that support that needs of the individuals served. Individuals residing at these programs can experience a variety of activities like walks, attending church, participating in community events, sporting events, musical activities and other adaptive functions. Activities and personal goals are based on personal preferences and skills.
Our staff work diligently to provide each and every individual with a plan to promote independence. While at home, all people are encouraged to help with daily household chores, increase self-care skills, and help plan indoor and outdoor activities to the best of their ability.
Everyone needs help at times. And everyone deserves a break. Since 1981, NER’s overnight, out-of-home respite care program has served more than 350 families and is the pioneering model of respite care for families who have kept their children with special needs living in the family home.
The minimum stay for this program is 48 hours, with an average stay of five days. While at respite, the individuals served have the opportunity to meet new friends, enjoy a variety of community activities, learn to spend time away from other family members, and become prepared for a time that they will move from their family home.
For parents, this is the time the natural weaning process can begin. As this process is often more difficult for parents, respite care can also helps prepare them for the inevitable. Placement outside of the family home is almost always certain, either in an independent living environment or a supervised one, whatever the case, whatever the age, NER’s respite care program can help prepare both parent and child. This program is generally paid through the MA program.
The Extended-Day / Summer Programs offer a fun, safe environment for individuals with disabilities. Communication and leisure-building skills is the focus of programs located in Maplewood and White Bear Lake. The programs provide care during after-school or after-day program hours. They are open all day, 7 am – 6 pm on non-school days and during the summer break.
When a family needs someone to come into their home to help with the day-to-day cares of their loved one with special needs, to take them out into the community, or on an appointment, we offer support by employing the person(s) chosen by the family to provide those services.
Examples of families’ use of this service include: helping prepare someone for school or work, taking someone to a movie, taking someone on a doctor appointment, or taking someone to Special Olympics practice.
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Respite care is available to children and adults of all ages over 5. This service is intended to offer support and periodic breaks from the day-to-day care for families who have a child with disabilities living at home. The minimum stay is 2 days with a maximum not to exceed 29 days. Typically, families who access the respite-care services can expect one visit nearly every month. Most visits are for 4-6 days and rarely exceed 2 weeks. Services are provided to families from the 5 county metro areas, but are available to anyone in the state. Beginning in January 2001, NER expanded its respite-care services to include 2 beds for individuals in wheelchairs, 24 hour on site nursing services are not available. NER does not have the expertise to provide services for medically fragile individuals or those who need on site nursing staff.
Scheduling for respite-care services is done quarterly and is based on family need and the “request for dates forms”. Client mix for example; age, gender, ability, disability, vulnerability, and other things necessary to ensure a good experience for all involved, must be considered when scheduling respite-care visits.
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