JAN'S GROUP HOME SUPPORT

A resident has many staff and other paid support in their lives. A lucky few have friends and family involved in their lives. Can individual staff really have much of an impact? Yes, they can!

It’s up to the the group home staff if it is positive or negative impact. Sadly some staff have a negative impact. It is done in the following ways:

• Creating dependency
• Not following behavior treatment plans (BTP)
• Doing things for residents they are capable of  doing
• Making choices for residents
• Disregarding residents rights

Group home support staff can have a positive impact on group home residents by being consistent, following BTP’s, taking time to let the resident learn new skills, and advocating for a disabled resident. What it takes as a staff to have a positive impact:

•  Strength
• Willingness to work hard
• Continue without immediate results
• Effort
• Invested time
• Knowledge
• Integrity
• Training
• Consistency

There are lessons to be learned from our environment that can help us as group home support staff. I write for an environmental blog, About my Planet. I came across the following video doing research. I have been increasingly environmentally conscious since Earth Day, but this video isn’t just inspiring environmentally, there are lessons to be learned from Dave Deppner and Trees for the Future. For me, this video was impressive on two  main levels:

1. Inspiring-one man and one tree evolved into a 50 million tree planting global project.  An individual effort can be the influence that is needed to start a  chain of events that eventually has a large impact. It showed the impact all of us can have as individuals.
2. Environmentally-a single tree can have a great impact on the environment and on society. Multiple trees have even a greater impact as a group.

In the video there is a description of one of the Trees for the Future’s projects where three tree species being introduced to an environment that never recovered from deforesting that occurred a century previously. That small step was all that was needed for the seeds and roots that lay dormant for a century to me revived. Three species eventually grew to 41 different species in an area that previously only grew a harsh grass.

Watch the videos here.

When heading off to the group home you work at, consider the lessons in the video. What is laying dormant in the group home residents that you do care giving for? What can you do to start a chain of events that will bring their strengths, talents, skills, and more to life?

Water conservation is in the news constantly. Here in the desert where I live our water bills are higher in the summer to discourage water use. How does one access the thousands of gallons of water that are available for free? Rainwater harvesting!

Some rainfall facts:

• One inch of rain can provide 600 gallons of rainwater runoff from a roof
• One inch of rain on an acre can provide 27,000 gallons of water

Searching online will come up with lots of information on how to harvest rainwater. This video was especially inspiring because it shows how one person inspired many and the creativeness of ordinary people.Yes, rainwater harvesting may take some work and time, but it’s worth it. This is a great project for residents also! Anyone can get started by simply putting out some buckets when it rains and collecting the water. Save those laundry soap containers with lids (when they are empty, they stack inside each other for storage)!

How the water can be used:

• Water indoor plants
• Water outdoor plants
• Wash cars
• Rinse cars
• Washing floors

Water can be harvested and stored on a larger scale with homemade or purchased rain barrels that come complete with a spout.

Landscapes can be designed to collect and hold water during rains. An area around gardens and trees can be built up with edging material, rocks, or dirt to hold water in place. “Canals” can be dug to redirect water runoff to a yard instead of on to the street or a wash.

Rainwater harvesting is good for the environment and will lower water bills. I would like to see the money that use to go to pay water bills would be returned to the group home to provide needed services (like dental work) or added to recreational funds to improve the quality of life for our residents. As staff, we can make the time and include it in the daily routine.

Another new category-Environment.

I don’t know the exact number of group homes in the US, but I know there are many. The company I work for, Easter Seals Blake Foundation, has increased the number of group homes in the 7 years I’ve worked for them and they are still growing! I know its the same with many community living service providers across the country. Group homes united can make a difference!

So often the people we care for are seen as “takers” in our society. One way to disable the prejudice is to use the power of numbers to give back to the community, give back to the environment, and to lessen the negative impact of group homes on the environment.

I wrote and article Earth Day Every Day. To keep the spirit alive, I will include regular posts that relate to environmental issues. I will include simple ideas for group homes to implement and also write about what is happening globally. Let’s make a positive impact on our environment one group home at a time.

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