How Can Residential Habilitation Help Someone with Down Syndrome?
Down syndrome is a genetic condition that affects how a person is able to go about the typical routines of life. Some people with Down syndrome area able to hold down jobs that they love, have a full social life, and more, but that often still requires a little added assistance.
Early Intervention Makes a Difference
Historically, people with Down syndrome were recommended to be institutionalized, even if they were considered high functioning. The more that doctors learn about Down syndrome, the more those beliefs have changed. Intervening early for someone with Down syndrome makes a huge difference in what they’ll be able to do and how well that person will be able to function in society.
Transitioning from School Can Be Difficult
School is very often a safe and structured environment for people with Down syndrome, but there is an upper limit for how long they can remain in school. This makes a transitional plan from school to other programs crucial. Formulating that plan before it’s necessary is incredibly important and residential habilitation services help with that process.
Some Choose to Move
Living a “normal” life may not be fully possible, but it can be possible for some adults with Down syndrome to move out of their parents’ or guardians’ homes. They may opt to live in a dorm at college, for instance, or choose a group home setting. Residential habilitation programs can help with these changes and facilitate those adjustments.
Jobs and Careers Are a Real Possibility
It’s also possible for someone with Down syndrome to have a job or a career that they love and that fulfills them. Some adults with Down syndrome might be able to work on their own with little or no daily support. Others might work in a setting with a lot more support and assistance. These options are based on the needs of the individual.
Managing Social and Health Concerns
People with Down syndrome are more likely to experience health issues earlier in life, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. They’re also more likely to experience depression and other mental health problems. Having a healthy social life and a variety of people and resources on which to lean can make managing these issues much easier for someone with Down syndrome.
Finding the right Down syndrome resources is challenging at first and especially on your own, but residential habilitation services can help to put the right solutions in place.
If you are considering behavior support management in Avon, IN, please call the caring staff at RSI Cares. Serving Greater Indianapolis Area. Call for Immediate Info & Assistance: 317-471-0750.
As a practicing Registered Nurse, Etelka was keenly aware of a void in quality patient care that could be provided in the home. She embarked upon a journey to develop a home health care agency that would exceed all expectations and become a trusted partner to physicians and patients.
A Distinguished Career From Nurse to Director of Nursing to President of Home Services Unlimited
Etelka’s distinguished career followed a logical progression to her position as President of Home Services Unlimited. She graduated as a nurse practitioner with a Bachelor of Nursing (RN) in 1972 from Meshgorya University in the Ukraine, close to where she lived with her family. She married her husband Phil in 1973 and decided in 1977 that they would relocate to the United States to be closer to family and to come to this land of opportunity. With an eagerness to continue her budding career, Etelka sat for and passed her Boards in the U.S. in 1979.
A Love and Talent for Working with the Elderly
Etelka began her nursing career in the U.S. at Colonial Crest, now part of Golden Living, where shewasthe In-service Coordinator, the Director of Training and Education and Director of Nursing, a position she occupied for several years.
With a group of partners, she co-founded Adept Corporation, which operated group homes for the mentally challenged. The business was successful and in 1996, Etelka sold her share to return to her roots, caring for the elderly.
In January of 1997, Etelka opened Home Services Unlimited as a fully licensed business to provide home health care. In her quest to learn to do better for her patients, she had already obtained a Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) in May of 1990 from the College of St. Francis. As President of Home Services Unlimited, Inc., Etelka guides the trusted, experienced care model Home Services Unlimited uses to continue providing excellent home health care.
Giving Back to the Community of Indianapolis
Volunteering for community services is a high priority for Etelka. Her memberships include the Indiana Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, Executive Women in Health Care and the Indiana Association for Home and Hospice Care, where she is a member of the Board of Directors.
Etelka has also served on the Board of Directors with Hooverwood Home, a highly regarded geriatric facility, since 1997 and as the President for 2005-2006. Through her community work, she has received several awards and accolades, including the Nora McFarland award in 2002, from the Indiana Association of Home and Hospice Care.
Etelka was honored as a “Health Care Hero” by the Indianapolis Business Journal. The issue can be read online here:
http://mags.ibj.com/activemagazine/welcome/html/ibjhch.html.
After clicking on the link, then click on the image of the issue’s front page. After that, you can browse through the issue or click in a box near the top of your internet browser to adjust the page to 17, which is where Etelka’s article appears.
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