Supports for Community Living
Developing skills for everyday living --- dramatically increases quality of life
Independent living plays such a significant role in defining the quality of a life. Our inability to live self-sufficiently jeopardizes our freedom. Suddenly we are forced to rely on others to have our needs met. When we are completely dependent on someone else, it can create tremendous frustration, feelings of sadness and hopelessness. It detracts from our self-worth and our perceived value.
Acquiring daily living skills is a major component in re-building your life. However you define it, the idea of living unaided is central to a sense of control and self-esteem. URSA not only understands this but offers the necessary resources and encouragement to ensure this.
The Supports for Community Living Program (SCLS) encourages those living with a brain injury to learn (or in some cases, re-learn) community living skills. This support allows opportunity for them to set goals and learn strategies to become functionally independent within their homes and their community.
Together with the client, their family, SABIS and their entire appointed URSA team, a rehabilitation program is established. Depending on your needs, your Key Worker will regularly meet with you, whether at your home or in a particular community setting. You will be supported as you develop skills and advance capabilities, helping you ease back into society.
Daily living skills creates opportunities to establish independent living through:
- Communication skills
- Community awareness
- Use of public transportation
- Household management
- Money management (i.e. money skills, budgeting and banking)
- Menu planning and food purchase
- Safety issues
- Personal hygiene
- Literacy
- Self-advocacy
- Leisure/recreation activities
Living with a disability requires varying degrees of assistance. URSA's goal for each and every client is for them to live full, productive and satisfying lives, as active members of their communities.
Objectives of the Community Living Program:
- To establish a meaningful rehabilitation plan that enables the client to monitor their challenges and provides them with teaching opportunities to develop skills or to trial compensatory strategies
- To support brain injury survivors so they can function successfully within an independent living situation and their community
- Fading out formal rehabilitation support and replacing this with natural supports or unpaid personnel
- Client confidence to access community amenities and to develop a natural peer support network
- Follow-up support
- Development of a natural support system that will be available to the client