The Agency expects the following values to be inculcated into its management and staff philosophy focusing upon the Individuals that we serve.
Honesty: Being truthful, fair, sincere, and straightforward.
Respect: Showing consideration for feelings, rights, and property, of self and others and embracing diversity. Responsibility: Acting with accountability for one’s behavior, duties, and obligations. Empowerment: Having control over one’s life and choices. Compassion: Understanding the suffering or troubles of others, which engenders the urge to help Spirituality: Discovering personal meaning and purpose.
Alternative Living Units (ALUs) provide housing and staff supports to three or fewer people in a residential environment. Each home is generally staffed 24 hours a day, unless people who live there can safely be unsupervised for a specific amount of time. Staff members assist individuals with all aspects of daily living such as medication management, grooming, personal care, medical appointments, management of funds and maintaining benefits, home care, meals preparation, and other aspects of community involvement such as shopping, banking, sports, educational and cultural opportunities and a variety of entertainment possibilities. Each individual has his or her own room. All individuals residing in the ALUs work on individualized goals of their own choosing aimed at meeting their needs and desires. ALU services are community-based and community-centered with the aim of encouraging real involvement in the community.
These homes are designed to provide individuals with the opportunity to live in the community, gain greater independence, and reach maximum potential. Some of the Individuals may attend Day Programs or are competitively employed. Each home also offers a diverse recreation program.
Each resident in our facilities would benefit from the support of the staff they work with. The capacity of each facility shall be three. In addition to the direct care staff, our residents are assigned a Delegating Nurse. The delegating nurse manager, monitors the Individuals’ medications, conducts the initial nursing assessments and 45 day reviews and has additional responsibilities including but not limited to the aforementioned and include having responsibility for ensuring that quality assurance mechanism are in place and nursing functions are performed safely so that expected client outcomes meet accepted professional nursing standards.
The Residential Coordinator/Manager ensures that the Individuals are treated with respect, dignity and courtesy and that the Individual Plan (IP) is being implemented and has the required components.
What Individuals Receive
Individuals living in our homes receive support in the following services according to their needs:
· Personal Care and grooming
· Assistance with maintaining benefits
· Behavioral Services
· Recreational Activities
· Medication Management
· Shopping
· CookingHousekeepingAccessing Community ServicesMoney Management
The level of supervision and assistance provided by staff is based on the needs of each individual focusing upon the Individual Plan/IP. Individuals living in our facilities regularly participate in activities in the community such as swimming, horse riding, shopping, bowling, church, and restaurants.
Sykesville Woods Inc. will start with two Alternate Living Units (ALUs). There will be 3 individuals per home. At the present time none of our homes are wheelchair accessible, however, we are working on making the necessary accommodation so that our homes are accessible by the time that we open up our facilities.
Residents’ personal spending is contingent upon their SSI/SSDI and funds that are available to the individuals. Individuals, according to their capabilities and wishes, control their personal funds. SW will ensure that Individuals’ funds are secured and monitored to ensure unrestricted access of the individual to their accounts.
Full-time Case Managers and Nurses are on staff, and we assist individuals in securing services with a Pharmacist, Dietician, Dentist, OT/PT/ST, Psychiatrist, and Psychologist as needed.
At home, residents are encouraged to explore and pursue interests in hobbies, games and other activities. Community-based leisure activities are facilitated according to resident preferences. Cooking, laundry, shopping, and household chores are all integrated into the resident's life. Sykesville Woods Inc. hopes to operate more homes in Washington and Baltimore-Metropolitan Area.
