Life Skills & Learning Center November Update

Inclement Weather Policy | Healthy Living | On Site | Community Based Day Supports | Employment Services

An Update from Advocates Life Skills and Learning Center 

Fall is in full swing and we're celebrating one year back for on-site programming and are so glad to be together!

Many of you are still waiting to resume services, and I am grateful for your patience. Advocates, like many day program providers, is experiencing challenges due to the human services workforce crisis. We are pleased to announce we are increasing our efforts to recruit staff, but we still have many positions open and are not yet able to welcome back all our friends who are at home.

Advocates leadership is working hard to address this crisis and recently increased hourly wages. This is a well-deserved recognition for our dedicated staff, and we are hopeful it will enhance our recruitment efforts. I ask that you contact your local representatives and community leaders about the support needed for staff.

In brighter news, 99% of our day services staff and 90% of those we support are vaccinated against COVID-19! According to the most recent guidance from our funders, remote services will no longer be a part of paid day services as of December 31, 2021. If your loved one has not returned by that time, they will remain an active member of services and will continue to receive check ins.

 

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Bardasz
Senior Director of Day Services

 

Inclement Weather Policy

Day Services may close during severe weather conditions to ensure the safety of all individuals.

• A decision to close or the delay the opening of the programs will be made two to three hours prior to the regular start time, if possible.
• The Manager or designee will be in touch via a text or a call.
• The phone greeting at the Life Skills and Learning Center will be updated to note either a delayed start and or a closure due to weather conditions by 6:30 a.m. Updates will also be posted on the Advocates website and social media pages.

 

Healthy Living

Brought to you by Hugh Doherty, Health Care Coordinator

Every Friday, our friends from CHOICES join Advocates nursing staff to dive into a new healthy living topic such as managing stress, proper sleep, exercise, nutrition, and how different organ systems work. We watch videos, conduct experiments, perform exercises, and having meaningful discussions. Everyone has an opportunity to share their experiences and ideas in a safe environment where they are encouraged by the support of their peers. Group members often suggest topics they want to discuss, which facilitates greater interest, enthusiastic conversations, and positive peer interactions.

Through the healthy living group, our friends learn more about each other and gain practical knowledge for well-being.

 

On Site

Brought to you by Kathy D'Errico, Director of Day Supports

Day Services programming is in full swing with weekly themes like colors, summer, National Geographic, transportation, healthy living, the Olympics, and multiculturism. In returning to our curriculum-based programming, we enjoy learning about the themes with daily News to Me articles, trivia and games, social skills, hygiene, and more. We also have a blast with arts and crafts, sensory projects, and science experiments related to the weekly theme.

Throughout the summer, our friends tended to our community gardens in Holliston, often sharing the fruits (and vegetables) of their labor.

To show appreciation for our staff, we held a summer barbecue and an ice cream social for staff and their families. The barbecue was perfect with good friends, games, dancing, and laughter.

At the ice cream social, staff were treated to a drive-up ice-cream truck filled with lots of flavors and toppings for the perfect cone or sundae treat.  A great time was had by all, and possibly a few more pounds were added to our waists!

 

Community Based Day Supports

Brought to you by Eric Dwinnells, Senior Case Manager

From admiring the masterpieces at The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston to getting in the Halloween spirit in Salem and visiting Chinatown, we are enjoying exciting day trips! To celebrate some of our friends' birthdays, we got our game faces on at Dave and Busters.

A variety of volunteer opportunities are keeping us busy in the community! We love helping out at the MetroWest Humane Society, a new volunteer site we began after our return from closure, where we sometimes get to care for the adorable kittens! We continue to add more opportunities to our weekly volunteer schedule at Habitat for Humanity and the Upton Food Pantry, where we package bagels.

      

When we're not out in the community, our friends are engaged in a skill-building activities such as job readiness preparation and social skills. We also put together a spooky haunted house for our annual Halloween party!

 

Employment Services

Brought to you by Colleen Graham, Manager of Employment - DDS Services

Five of our friends recently started new jobs! Several others returned to their previous positions.

After being furloughed during the pandemic, Larry is excited to be back to work at Legal Seafood, where he has been a valued employee since 1996—that is 25 years! He missed his job and coworkers and was thrilled to pick up where he left off. Larry adjusted nicely to the COVID-related changes at the restaurant.

A coworker shared, “Larry’s presence and energy was greatly missed. He is a hard worker who makes my life easier, and I truly enjoy when he’s around. I’m not the only one who feels this way about Larry, he is loved by the whole staff!”

 

About the Life Skills and Learning Center: Through our Day and Employment Services at the Life Skills & Learning Center, Advocates staff partners with adults who have disabilities and their families to customize experiences and activities uniquely suited to each person’s interests, skills, needs, and goals. Learn more at www.Advocates.org/LSLC.