to Read - Venture Forthe

Inside this Issue
Leadership Changes….2
Rochester Community
Health Fair............……….2
New Dementia Care
Program..............................3
Quarterly Newsletter
Earth Day
Volunteerism....................3
Spring 2014
Venture Forthe Launches Foundation
Client Spotlight................4
The Venture Forthe Foundation is a non profit organization dedicated
to support veterans with traumatic brain injury and help them live
more independent and higher quality lives. The Foundation was
started by Jean Dziewit to honor her husband and give back to local
veterans in need.
Exercising with Limited
Mobility..............................5
Employee Spotlight…....6
The Foundation is excited to announce a partnership with the Veterans One-stop Center of WNY (VOCWNY) and the WNY Veterans’
Housing Coalition (WNYVHC) to develop Operation Independence,
the region’s first and only social day program for veterans with a
traumatic brain injury (TBI).
The program launching this July, will provide service men and
women with TBI a safe and supportive social environment to engage
with peers and work on recovery. Operation Independence will run
Monday through Friday from 9am-3pm at 1125 Main Street in Buffalo, NY. The program is open to any veteran who has suffered a
TBI, either in combat or in civilian life.
Managed Long Term
Care......................................7
Employment Opportunities..…...............................8
Special Points of
Interest
•
TBI has been called the “signature injury” of Operation Enduring
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Nearly 300,000 service
members since 2000 have been diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain
Injury. Federal level pilot programs are being launched but in
Western New York veterans with TBI have no structured
environment where they can socialize and gain support from peers.
•
Operation Independence will be that place. The community-based
program will provide veterans with peer support in a social,
individualized and structured environment. We will work closely
with the PFC Dwyer Peer Support Program a state wide program for
both families and veterans. For more info visit
www.ventureforthefoundation.org.
•
•
•
•
VF Launches New Dementia Care Program
Venture Forthe Grows
with MLTC
Venture Forthe Helps
Clients Regain
Independence
Tablets Now in All Clients Homes
Buffalo Day Program Offers Music Therapy
Summer Picnics Coming
Soon!
1
Leadership Changes:
Locations
Niagara Falls:
3900 Packard Rd.
Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Telephone: 716.285.8070
Chris Mercer, Director of Human Resources: Chris will oversee the
Human Resources Department, he has been with VFI for nearly 5
years. Chris was previously the Scheduling Supervisor and most recently has
been the Special Projects and Billing Coordinator. Chris has a background in
Engineering and a Masters in Engineering from Clarkson University. As we
continue to grow we look forward to him bringing his expertise in systems to
help streamline processes and improve efficiency.
Ed Lynch, Compliance Supervisor: Ed was promoted to the Compli-
Olean:
242 N. Union St
Olean, NY 14760
Telephone: 716.376.9996
Rochester:
687 Lee Road, Suite C 185
Rochester, NY 14606
Telephone: 585.413.3752
ance Supervisor from Sr. Compliance Specialist. In this role, Ed will oversee
note audits, phone calls for corrections and supervisions. He has been with
VFI since 2010 and throughout the years has proven to be an asset to the organization; he has filled in and taken on new roles as needed. Ed will be a
resource to all employees.
Danielle Abdulla, Service Coordinator Supervisor: Danielle has
proven to be a strong leader and has taken on additional responsibility in her
role as the Assistant SC Supervisor. She has been promoted to Service Coordination Supervisor, where she will continue to oversee Service Coordination
activities in the Buffalo Region and will take on further supervisory responsibilities.
Hans Schiffert, Scheduling Supervisor: Hans will oversee the SchedulJamestown:
21 East Third Street, Suite 221
Jamestown, NY 14701
ing Department and all administrative duties associated with the department.
He has been in the field of Education/Human Services for over 15 years and
had been appointed by the Erie County Legislature as a committee member
for the Local Early Intervention Coordinating Council.
Telephone: 716.870.8857
Rochester Community Fair Project
Finger Lakes:
85 Lafayette Ave
Please join us in congratulating the Rochester Community Outreach Team on
developing their own health fair, known as Our Community Health Fair!
Canandaigua, NY 14424
Telephone: 351.651.6970
Structured Day Buffalo:
295 Main Street, Suite 101
Buffalo, NY 14203
Telephone: (716) 285-8070 ext
118
Structured Day Southern
Tier:
4193 New York 19
Belmont, NY 14813
Telephone: (585) 596-1119
The fair started as brain storming idea between Robin Didas-Mott, her intern
Brockport Social Works Julie Spaulding, and Dona Watkins from Medical Solutions. The idea sparked after they had participated in multiple health fairs
that seemed to be targeting the private pay community. The idea has grown
into a collaboration of multiple local agencies working together to develop a
fair that has the potential to travel and grow throughout Monroe County and
surrounding areas.
The fair is targeting underserved areas of Monroe County, low-income individuals, and those in need of education & supportive services. The collaborations’ primary focus is educating the community about services and resources
available to them at little to no cost through local organizations. At the fair participants will have the opportunity to learn about community resources, win
door prizes, enjoy light refreshments, and receive free health screenings.
The 1st fair will take place on June 12, 2014 at the Community Place of
Greater Rochester, Parsells Avenue location. Currently, 20 area agencies are
booked for the event and are adding others daily. We look forward to hearing
about the fun and success of the fair and to see where they will travel to next.
2
Dementia Care Program
Venture Forthe’s Dementia Care Program is an innovative program that we
are extremely proud of and one that no other agency in the region offers.
We recognized the growing need for more specialized care for individuals
with Alzheimer’s Disease and other related Dementias. To address this need
we created a program where individualized care plans are developed and
program participants are matched with a Memory Care Counselor. This
counselor is a Certified Dementia Practitioner© who works with the
Chris Roche, Venture Forthe Clinical Director
Certified Dementia Practitioner and Trainer®
at the Alzheimer’s Association WNY
Dementia Symposium
participant, the family and the caregiver to improve communication, re-direct
behaviors and provide education to improve the overall experience for everyone involved. We believe this is an invaluable solution for families caring for
a loved one with Dementia.
Our Memory Care Counselors focus on the participants strengths and inter-
Earth Day 2014
ests . The goal is to utilize the hobbies and activities they enjoy to create
meaningful moments that can continue to adjust as the individual’s cognitive
abilities change. For more information visit: www.ventureforthe.com/
dementia-care-program or call Chris Roche at 716-285-8070 ext 110.
To celebrate Earth Day we donated our time to help clean up our local
communities. In the Buffalo/Niagara region employees participated in the
Riverkeeper’s Spring Shoreline Sweep. Volunteers spent Saturday April 19th
in the rain cleaning up the Riverfront from Canalside to Niagara Falls.
In Rochester, in partnership with the Greater Rochester Area Partnership for
the Elderly staff helped cleaned up Mount Hope Cemetery as a part of the
United Way’s Day of Caring.
Upcoming Events
Venture Forthe’s Annual Summer
Picnics. This is an opportunity for
our clients, their families and our
staff to all come together to enjoy
a fun afternoon. Letters will be
sent our soon with all the details,
so stay tuned!
• Buffalo/Niagara: July 24th
• Southern Tier: July 17th
• Rochester: TBD
• Jamestown: TBD
Buffalo Pride Parade: Our Social
Committee will be walking with
clients in the upcoming PRIDE
Parade on June 1st to celebrate
Diversity.
Above, Employees enjoying breakfast
after cleaning up the riverfront.
Right, Rochester employees at Mount
Hope Cemetery.
Rochester Community Health
Fair : June 12th
Veterans Day Program Grand
Opening: July 2014
3
Client Spotlight– Shawn Spencer
Shawn’s car after the accident
Shawn Spencer was not what you would call a “good kid,” he was in
trouble often, ran with the wrong crowd and a high school dropout.
When he was 18 he decided to test his luck, he sped down a speed bump
lined road at over 70 miles per hour. Shawn’s car went flying into the air
and smashed into a telephone pole. He spent 6 weeks in a coma and
when he woke up he was completely paralyzed on the right side of his
body and wheel chair bound. His family was unable to care for him so at
the age of 18 Shawn went to live at the Erie County Nursing Home. He
spent over 5 years living in the nursing home, a period of time he
describes as “no fun”, which is an understatement but Shawn finds the
light in even the darkest moments.
Determined to regain his independence, Shawn sought the help of
Venture Forthe and the Traumatic Brain Injury Waiver. Shawn did not
let his injury defeat him; it became his motivation to change and become
a better person.
Shawn with other residents at Erie County
Nursing Home
Shawn speaking at Hamburg High
Shawn graduated from Bryant and Stratton with a degree in Computer
Networking on Saturday May 17th and is currently looking for a job in
IT. Something he never thought was possible, even before the accident.
Shawn has been living in his own apartment since 2008. Recently,
Shawn had the opportunity to speak to a group of teens at a Juvenile
Detention Center about the dangers of reckless driving. This experience
inspired him and he now devoting his free time to visiting local high
schools to talk about his struggles and the dangers of speeding and
driving. Determined to give back, Shawn worked with his Independent
Living Skills Trainer (ILST) Megan Rogers to reach out to Hamburg
High School, he received a quick response and within a few weeks he
was in front local high schoolers sharing his story. On April 22nd and
23rd Shawn spoke to nine Hamburg High classes and his story was
covered by News Channel 4. You can see the clip by visiting http://
wivb.com/2014/04/28/student-spotlight-buffalo-man-overcomestraumatic-brain-injury-and-graduates/
Shawn’s story proves that our circumstances do not define us and that
hard work and determination pay off.
News Channel 4 covers the presentation
4
Shawn Spencer has been a client of Venture Forthe since 2008.
Client Spotlight– Cody Laahs
Cody Laahs was 19 when he was rear ended by a large truck, driving at excessive speed in 2011. Most of the
impact took place to Cody’s driver side. He was flown to ECMC and was in a medical induced coma for nine
days. He remained at ECMC for four months. When he was discharged he returned home with numerous disabilities that he never had to deal with before; a TBI, a Speech Disorder and severe cognitive deficits.
Cody reports it was difficult for him to adjust to his new diagnosis and he experienced difficulty with engaging
in a daily routine and a regular sleep schedule. Cody was approved for the TBI Waiver and joined Venture
Forthe in 2012. Since then, with on-going support from Venture Forthe staff, Cody has demonstrated positive
motivation and active participation in his recovery.
Cody expressed his desire to drive again but needed extra support and an evaluation to ensure he was ready.
With instruction from his ILST and assistance from his aides, Cody was able to practice and study driving techniques for several months. He researched different driver evaluation programs, in the Buffalo area, but they were
very expensive. Due to a limited income, he was worried his dream to drive again was far beyond his reach.
With the help from his Service Coordinator, Christina Mead, Cody found Steven’s Driving School. He scheduled the driver’s evaluation on April 8, 2013.
Cody completed the evaluation and was given the go ahead to resume regular driving capabilities; He was ecstatic! He reported that test was mentally and physically challenging. Cody did not miss a beat and passed with
flying colors. Cody proclaims this is the best thing that has happened to him since his accident, in short
Cody quotes,“ I have my wings back, my freedom.”
Exercising with Limited Mobility
By: Lisa Johnson, Venture Forthe Independent Living Skills
Trainer
The key to a healthy lifestyle starts with and maintaining
regular exercise at least 2- 3 times per week. But if you are
older or living with a disability this can be difficult. Below
are some tips on how to incorporate exercise activities that
are within your means.
• Have a positive attitude. Limited mobility should NOT
stand in your way to exercise. Don’t focus on the mobility or health issue. Instead of worrying about
the things you can’t do, focus on finding activities you can.
• Pace yourself.. Choose low-risk activities and don’t do too much too fast. Exercise in the water is a
great option!
• Talk to your doctor first.
• Exercise with a friend. There is strength in numbers, having a partner will keep you both motivated.
• Stick with it! It sometimes takes up to 7 weeks to form a habit. It might be good to write down your
reasons for exercising and list your goals. Keep them in a visible place to keep motivated.
• Keep in mind with limited mobility it is important to have a warm-up and cool-down session. This can
prevent muscle strains and other injuries. Flexibility exercises help enhance your range of motion and
reduce muscle pain and stiffness
Do what you can and keep it simple.
5
Social Committee
Working in health care requires long hours, often times demanding schedules that can be stressful. To alleviate some of this stress employees formed the Social Committee, which organizes
monthly activities to build employee morale and team work.
Monthly Activities
February: Vintage Valentine’s Day and Dessert Potluck
March: Random Act of Kindness and St. Patty’s Day Festival with live Irish Music by
President, John Dziewit and
Joe Mombrea, CIC
April: 80s Family Roller Skating Party and Earth Day Clean
Up
May: PRIDE Parade and After
Work Get Together
Employee Spotlight
Tina Shongo, Personal Care Aide-Jamestown
At Venture Forthe our mission is to provide quality, compassionate and supportive services in an ethical manner. Tina exemplifies this mission; she is
dedicated, kind and professional.
Tina has been a caregiver for Venture Forthe for two and half years but she
has been a professional caregiver for nearly 15 years. For her this is more
than a job, she takes a personal interest in clients and helps them to achieve
goals they find important.
Her clients have only kind words to say about her, phrases such as:
“extremely helpful,” “a true friend” and “caring,” were echoed by each person we spoke with. She truly goes above and beyond the call of duty, stopping to pick up medicine when
clients cannot get out or bringing a milkshake to cheer someone up, or arranging for a client to get to
their favorite BBQ restaurant are just examples of the little things she does that have a big impact on the
people she cares for.
She has helped the organization tremendously by filling in at last minute shifts, helping new aides and
staying late. She is very professional and approaches all situations with a positive attitude. We are truly
lucky to have her and appreciate her hard work and dedication. Thank you Tina!
6
Managed Long Term Care
Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) is NY State’s plan to streamline the delivery of long-term services to people
who are chronically ill or disabled and who wish to stay in their homes and communities. These services, such as
home care or adult day care, are provided through MLTC plans, which are run by private companies. The State is
mandating that all individuals who are Medicaid Eligible or Dual Eligible (eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare) and over 21 years of age and need community based long-term care services for more than 120 days must
enroll in a MLTC plan. Mandatory enrollment has already begun in Erie and Monroe Counties with the rest of
WNY Counties scheduled throughout the coming months.
This change represents a fundamental shift in the way health care is managed but also a huge opportunity for the
company to grow and provide care to more individuals who previously were not eligible. We have been in front of
the change and have put systems in place to facilitate the growth.
Contracts In Place: Home First, United Healthcare, First Choice , Elderplan, WellCare, Axion, iCircle
Coming Soon: Total Aging in Place Program, Centers Plan for Healthy Living, Excellus Health Plan,
Niagara Advantage
PCA University , an online learning tool for our personal care aides to continue their professional development is set to launch in June! The online tool will allow our aides to gain additional training on new and
relevant topics that they can utilize in the field. PCA University is an initiative to improve quality of care and
employee professionalism.
Music Therapy at Structured Day
Tablets Now in All Client Homes
In an effort to continuously improve processes
and make it easier for our caregivers to
document care, provide up to date information
and communicate with the corporate team we
are installing tablets in every clients home.
We recently partnered with the Buffalo Community Music
School to bring our Structured Day Participants weekly
music therapy lessons.
Every Friday Jamie Rowitsch, a board-certified music therapist works with our participants to improve range of motion,
speech and social abilities. The participants love program
and we have seen participation grow drastically over the last
few weeks. We plan to continue to grow our community
partnerships so we can provide our participants with new
and exciting ways to work on recovery.
We are excited to implement the new technology we believe it will reduce our caregivers
stress and make it much easier on them to
complete their reports in a timely manner. This
is a new program so we would love to hear
feedback from our clients and caregivers on
how the transition is going. Feel free to contact
the Compliance Department at 716-285-8070
and press *
7
Venture Forthe Inc.
3900 Packard Rd
Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Personal Care Aide
Featured Employment Opportunities
We are looking for caring and compassionate people to join our team of caregivers. Personal Care Aides are responsible for
providing health and personal care tasks in the clients home. We will provide all necessary training and certification for qualified candidates. Immediate openings in East Aurora, Hamburg, Clarence, Amherst and North Tonawanda.
Recruiter:
Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, and orientation of all new hires in the region. This position requires excellent communication, networking and interpersonal skills as well as creativity and an ability to work with people at all levels of training.
We are looking for a self starter, who is passionate about helping others and growing the organization.
Program Manager-Operation Independence
The Program Manager will be responsible for managing the day to day operations of the
Veterans program, This will include program development; the manager will be responsible for maintaining a monthly activities calendar, for developing structured group activities and encouraging participants to work on independent living skills. This individual
must have military experience.
Please visit
www.ventureforthe.com
for complete list of jobs.
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