JAN'S GROUP HOME SUPPORT

Group home residents and group home staff often enjoy watching TV together. To make it a positive activity there are some guidelines that should be followed.

Times when TV watching will fit into care-giving at a group home for disabled adults and children:

• Weather prohibits outdoor activities
• Illness keeps a group home resident at the house
• A physical injury interferes with activity
• The resident has had a busy/stressful day or week
• Limited funds for activities (movie night)

The obvious and most important guideline is that the TV should NOT be used to “babysit” residents while staff sit on the phone or are doing their homework. Group home support staff are there for the residents, personal activities should be done when off the clock.

With that being said, here are some guidelines that can make TV watching with the residents of a group home a positive experience.

• Choose age appropriate programs when possible
• Comedies, educational, and motivating shows are always good choices
• Go for a walk or do some other physical activity before sitting down to watch  TV
• Pay attention to what is being  watched
• Have a commercial activity planned (snacks, stretching, musical chairs,  etc)

Sometimes residents will choose to watch something inappropriate, it is their right. Sometimes prompting will not change their mind on an inappropriate choice. When this happens, pay close attention to what they are watching and give your input.

Comment for  inappropriate scenes:

• That wasn’t very nice
• I wouldn’t do that
• I’m sure you would never talk to someone like that
• I stay away from people like that
• It’s wrong to lie
• That is just pretend

Simple, short statements are the most effective. Don’t over due it, or you will be tuned out!
When group home support staff sits silently next to a resident while they watch TV can give them the mistaken idea that what the resident  sees on television is OK in real life. When watching TV with mentally disabled or mentally ill group home residents, as support staff, it is our responsibility to help them sort out acceptable and unacceptable behavior that they view.

TV time can be relaxing and educational for both residents and staff by following a few guidelines for watching TV in the group home.

The newest studies estimate that one in every 150 children have autism, some so mild it goes undiagnosed. Many studies continue on its cause. It is suggested in may be genetic or there is an inability to remove copper (an ingredient in immunizations) from the body.

No matter what the cause, any parent’s heart sinks when they hear the diagnosis. While the scientists try to sort out the reasons for autism, those who live with it, along with their family and friends, have new technology available.

CNN has a story about a woman, Amanda Baggs, who as a child stopped speaking. With the help of modern technology and the internet, Amanda can communicate with the world! Initially she may appear simple minded when you meet her in person. She merely grunts in response to conversation and does not make eye contact. She purposefully turns her head away from people, she doesn’t merely change the direction of her gaze.

When Amanda communicates online or with a communication device, a different Amanda is revealed. Who is revealed, is who Amanda really is-a wise, articulate, and intelligent woman with a lot to say. She has much to teach us all.

The internet is a major breakthrough for the 600,000 adults living with Autism. On the internet, there is no distracting body language to interpret during a conversation. On the internet an autistic person can communicate with just words, and their true self is free to be revealed.

For years I’ve struggled trying to get the idea of Jan’s Group Home Support off the ground. Now, must be the time, because things are moving at a steady pace.

• Hosting-I have am thankful that as I prepare the blog for the launch, the hosting re-seller that I use, Host Gurilla, has been busy with upgrades, making me confident in the functioning of this blog for launch.
• Claimed the blog on Technorati I still need to fill in the my Technorati Profile.
• Google search-the blog is coming up on the first 10 pages with Jan’s Group Home Support. Before, posts about Jan’s Group Home Support in Jan’s Ideas was coming up on the first 10 pages.
• Registering the blog in directories-this weekend I’ll work on that.
• Affiliates-applied and was accepted to several affiliates. I’ll be making a small percentage of any sales from the links. Added a few ads to the pages and related articles.

I’m looking forward to continueing with the progress the next few weeks.

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