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 Volume 5 Issue 3 - Winter 1999 A Publication of the TRIC/PLUK Library Editor/Librarian: LeeAnn Logan/Janice Sand |
TRIC/PLUK Library 516 N 32nd St Billings, MT 59101 1-800-222-7585 in MT 406-255-0540 (voice/TT) FAX: 406-255-0523 E-mail: plukinfo@pluk.org URL: http://www.pluk.org |
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MANDT Instructor Certification/Recertification training will take place August 2-6, 1999 in Billings. Contact Perry Jones at (406) 444-2995 or DMA directly at (972) 495-0755 for more information.
The 20th Annual Montana Conference on Developmental Disabilities will be held at the Sheraton Billings Hotel and Radison Northern Hotel October 27-29, 1999. More information to follow. Contact Perry Jones at (406) 444-2995 for more information.
KITCHEN SAFETY
&endash;submitted by Brad Johnson
DPHHS Field Services Specialist 321 East Main, Room 424 Bozeman, MT 59715-4731
The kitchen is many things to many people. It is a place of gathering, eating, and enjoying the good things in life&endash;food. The kitchen usually invokes very positive thoughts and memories. Yet, if we're not careful, the kitchen can hurt us quickly and without warning. Let's take a tour of the kitchen and try to uncover many of those items that may cause harm if care is not taken.
First, let's tour the appliances. In general, always be sure to have the right size cord for the appliance and don't overload outlets. Older homes generally have fewer outlets in the kitchen than we need for all the appliances that we have today and this can cause problems. Ideally, outlets near the sink should be ground faulted. Refrigerators&endash;The primary concern here is food spoilage and poisoning. The proper temperature is critical for the prevention of food poisoning. Both the refrigerator and freezer should have thermometers. The refrigerator should be set at 40 ° F and the freezer set at 0 ° F. Leftovers should be clearly marked with the date and time. Microwave ovens&endash;The two major hazards here are the use of improper utensils and overcooking. Training should take place to ensure that folks know what bowls and plates can be used in a microwave. Cooking times need to be clearly specified. Plastic wrap and brown paper bags should never be used in a microwave. Fires in the microwave oven are not cool and can cause a lot of damage. Mixers&endash;Proper training and/or supervision is necessary here to prevent injury. Loose, floppy clothing, dangling jewelry and hair can be caught in the beaters and cause significant harm. The same is true of the use of a spatula for scraping while the beaters are turning. Can Openers&endash;Can openers cause a lot of injuries due to the inherent nature of very sharp edges. Significant care needs to be taken with the handling of lids. Ranges&endash;The top of the range is not an extension of the counter. It should always be kept clear except when in use. The new hardtop ranges make it more difficult to tell if there is a hot burner since it is not visible. Even after the burner is turned off, it can stay quite warm for a period of time. Drip pans should be kept clean as dirty pans are a fire hazard and reduce the efficiency of the burner. The application of foil around drip pans is not a good idea as it reduces the life of the burner. The oven should be kept clean as well. If you are not going to be at the range while cooking, set the timer to remind you that you have something on the stove or in the oven. People have fallen asleep while cooking and a fire was the result. Related to the range is the ventilation hood. This needs to be kept clean and with the filter removed and cleaned on a regular basis. Toasters&endash;The primary hazard with toasters is reaching in for a bagel or piece of toast with a knife or fork with the unit plugged in. I think you can anticipate the result.
If the appliances don't get us, here are some other areas that might! Drawers&endash;The drawers need to be sturdy and have working stops to prevent them from coming all the way out. Dropping a drawer full of knives and forks on your feet can really ruin your day. Chairs&endash;Chairs are something that we seem to take for granted, but if not checked, can cause significant injury if they should fail. Examine all your chairs for sturdiness. If there are loose parts, have them repaired. Stools&endash;All of us have to reach high for something at one time or another and we usually use a stool for this. Be sure that the stool balances properly and has a wide, secure stance. Chemicals&endash;if there are any hazardous chemicals stored in the kitchen, they should be stored low. This is to minimize the risk of a chemical spill to the face and eyes. If they are a poisoning hazard to some members of the household, then they should be locked up. Smoke Detectors&endash;Yes, you need to have one. However, if it goes off often due to activities in the kitchen, it will need to be moved. Do not get in the habit of removing the batteries thinking you'll put them back in after you are done cooking. Life just doesn't happen that way. And last, but certainly not least, the omnipresent Fire Extinguisher. Today we look more at the rating of the extinguisher rather than the weight. The rating simply gives a measure of how much fire extinguishing potential there is for the various types of fires. A fire extinguisher with a rating of 2A10BC is generally recommended for a kitchen. The extinguisher should be mounted near an exit with the top of the extinguisher no higher than five feet from the floor. It should be clearly visible from most of the kitchen.
The kitchen is a warm, secure place and with the proper attention to detail and diligence, it can always remain so.•••
QUALITY CORNER
DD Case Managers: If you have things to add to this section, please send them to me. I will compile, edit, and send articles and information on to Lee Ann. Contact: James Driggers at (406) 444-2995.
Credit Card Dangers: A "Heads-up" from the NASDDDS (Gary Smith's Outfit)
The November 10 issue of the Wall Street Journal ran a front page article on persons with developmental disabilities in supported or independent living settings falling victim to the barrage of credit card advertisements and, subsequently, ending up deeply in debt. The article discusses persons with mental disabilities' rights to community inclusion and dignity of risk as well as the added responsibilities of living more independently. States mentioned in the article were Arizona, Iowa, and Maine.
No easy Answers
I found a couple of interesting articles from the Wisconsin Council on Developmental Disabilities by Chris Heimerl (1998 Keynote Speaker at the DD Conference in Butte) and Howard Mandeville, Editors. If you have internet access, try www.dcs.wisc.edu/pda/hhi/hpp/pmedic/index.html. The articles are entitled Six Valid Reasons For Using Psychotropic Medications and What To Do When The Team Is Feeling Stuck. If you do not have internet access, please contact Janice at 1-800-222-7585 and she will send you a copy of the articles.
Adult Foster Care Law Change
As mentioned in the last Quality Corner, DDP is proposing a law change which would permit an adult foster license to be granted in situations where people live who are receiving DDP-FUNDED services and who previously would not have been licensable due to inability to self-evacuate, incontinence, or inability to self-administer medications.
Representative Joan Hurdle from Billings introduced the bill last on January 8, 1999. The committee was generally receptive to the law change, and we believe that it will pass. If so, this would allow a nice service option for a few individuals in services that has not been available before.
Spring Staff Development
Spring Staff Development, or the training that Perry Jones is putting together for case managers and DDP staff, is scheduled for May 11-13 here in Helena. This promises to be one of the most important training events ever for case managers as we move toward implementation of "community supports" and the changing role of case managers. One full day, May 12, will be devoted to this general topic. We are planning a general case manager's meeting for the afternoon of the 11th, and on the morning of the 12th we plan to schedule sessions on guardianship, mortality, access to VR, and services to people with dual diagnoses, among others. So case managers, make plans to attend.•••
"He's Growing a New Tree"
&endash;by Deborah M. Shelley
Supported Living Coordinator Beartooth Industries A Montana Career Design Initiative Demonstration Site
Imagine...
...a home of your own;
...a job outside a workshop setting;
...the ability to sleep in a bedroom without having to close the door to gain privacy from others;
...falling asleep on the couch because it was quiet and you felt warm and safe;
...taking all the showers you wanted without having to wait for schedules;
...doing the dishes&endash;when&endash;you wanted without being told you&endash;had&endash;to;
...making food purchases for only yourself and not having to keep other people in mind;
...realizing that space, time, and decisions are entirely yours and not shared.
Now imagine waiting twenty years for that to happen. Sadly, Bernie K. did and without realizing until just recently that these options were available to him.
Bernie moved into his own apartment on May 1, 1998.
I worked with Bernie in a group home setting for close to ten years. He was very unhappy and I helped him through the years of insecurity, explosive behaviors, violent episodes, and confusion. He secluded himself in his room most of the time. He couldn't deal well with activity, noise, "sharing", and schedules. Each time he participated in any event, staff could anticipate an emotional episode.
Over a year ago, he and his psychiatrist began working with different medications and through the process of elimination, found a medication called Zyprexa. We started seeing some changes and noticed decreased anxiety and episodes, but Bernie still had some difficulties within the group home.
Since Bernie moved into his own place, the changes are overwhelming to many of us who have worked with him. His smile is constant and catching. He is calm, happy, content, and proud of his life and his new home. He is more attentive, focused and relaxed. All his struggles in the group home setting were eliminated with the help of the Zyprexa and his new lifestyle. Bernie has yet to "lose his cool" and deals with problems that arise in a positive way. I overheard someone say, "he's not turning over a new leaf, he's growing a brand new tree"!
A month after this transition, Bernie started a new business, with help from David Hammis and Roger Shelly, Organizational consultants from the MUARID. He sells puppets at the Beartooth Nature Center (BNC). BNC is a non-profit facility that cares for wild animals who have been injured or are too tame to return to the wild. Bernie's puppets represent the actual animals being cared for and his business is doing very well. Bernie donates 10% of his profits to BNC in exchange for exhibiting his display. What I found interesting about this is the responsibility he takes in making sure that the inventory is counted, the puppets labeled and priced, and the tree he displays them on is stocked and ready each week. He has been featured in our local paper, The Carbon County News, and during the 4th of July his puppet stand was at a benefit for the Beartooth Nature Center hosted by Jack Hannah, well-known TV personality and Director of the Columbus Zoo. Bernie met Mr. Hannah and had his picture taken with him. As I took the picture, I couldn't help but marvel. A year ago, I would have said, "No Way! This is too much for him to handle." Instead, I watched with great pleasure as Bernie politely talked with Mr. Hannah, mingled with a very large crowd, and smiled from ear to ear.
Until I participated in this whole new adventure with Bernie, I truly felt we were successfully moving ahead and promoting growth within the group homes by increasing personal choices, independence, and quality of life. As I watched Bernie make this transition, I realized that the group home setting, especially for long term residents, is really no more than a less restrictive "institutional" setting. Twenty years is too long to wait and dream for a home or a job of your own. It's unfair and unrealistic. With the right supports, imagination, and dedication, everyone can live in their own homes and work or own their own businesses. Bernie's story can and should become reality to every single person we serve in our organizations.•••
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