Residents Are Eager to Cast Their Votes
 Residents at Hillside House have strong opinions about the upcoming election-not just about the candidates but about ballot initiatives too - and they are eager to exercise their democratic right to vote. Because they vote by mail-in ballot, they can cast their votes any time now. But they want to be sure they are well informed about the issues and up-to-date on any recent developments before making these important decisions. So, in addition to watching the debates, residents have enjoyed several lively discussions with Susan Bradford (see photo at right). Susan is the Recreation Therapist at Hillside House, and she has devoted herself to answering residents' questions about the ballot in an informative, non-partisan way. One of the ballot measures that has attracted the attention of our residents is Proposition 2 about the "Standards for Confining Farm Animals." The proposition asks "Shall certain farm animals be allowed, for the majority of every day, to fully extend their limbs or wings, lie down, stand up and turn around?" Kindness in the treatment of animals is a shared concern for many residents.
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New Interactive Video Technology Gets Residents In the Action
 Welcome to the 21st Century! Hillside House residents are now enjoying a brand-new Wii set-up, which allows them to play interactive video games on a huge screen using remote controls that get their bodies into the action. The remote uses motion-sensing technology to translate residents' movements onto the screen and into the game. In a tennis game, the remote becomes a racket you swing with your arm. In a driving game, it becomes a steering wheel. Residents can create their own personalized Wii characters. These characters play for them on the screen, and their skills improve as the player masters the game, so residents can track their progress.
Shawn Trujillo, Client Skills Coordinator, writes: "The Wii is a hit here at Hillside House! Whether it's bowling, darts, air hockey, or bowling, every resident who has tried it has come away with something positive to say about the experience. Some residents can become so engrossed in the game they are playing, they forget about the physical and mental benefits they are receiving. Range of motion, hand-eye coordination, and peripheral vision are some of the most common benefits players receive. While the Wii will not replace any resident's PE Program, it can be seen as a great supplement. The Client Services department has recently received several more controllers, which is likely to enhance the experience that much more. Teams of residents can be made to battle other teams for the glorious title of Wii champion!"
Special thanks go to Assistance League of Santa Barbara, whose quarterly contributions to Hillside House, funded this new enhancement.
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Hillside House Avoids State Budget Cuts to Health Care Providers
On September 23, Governor Schwarzenegger signed the 2008-09 Budget, ending the longest budget stalemate in California's history. The new budget includes $10.3 billion in spending cuts, including the continuation of a 10% cut in reimbursements to MediCal providers that was already put into action in July. Fortunately for Hillside House, that measure included an exception for Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled, so we were not affected by the budget cuts. Our local health organization, CenCal, which handles the disbursement of of MediCal payments for the Santa Barbara area, agrees that Intermediate Care Facilities could not survive with these cuts. However, CenCal will be reducing rates to some hospitals and physicians. These rate reductions may affect our residents adversely when they need to go to a hospital or outside physician for services.
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Community Partners: Physical Therapy Assistants
Students Find Meaning Helping Others At Hillside House
 With this issue of Happenings, we are introducing a new Community Partners column, which will feature some of the many different segments of our community that particpate in providing the services that make Hillside House unique.
Students from UC Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara City College are an important part of daily life for the residents at Hillside House. Working as Physical Therapy Assistants, they come in with a variety of motivations for being a part of our "family," but they share a common desire to help others. Some of them are studying to be Physical Therapists, but others are studying Literature or Biology but want to work at Hillside House because they are looking for a way to serve and to give. All are exceptional people, whose care and patience is visible as they guide residents through specially-designed movements that bring greater physical ease, mobility and independence.
In the photo above, from left to right: Mike Costa, Bernie Baggarle, Diana Joyner, Connelly Renner and Cara Moore. Cara worked with us as a Physical Therapy Assistant while she was a student at UCSB. After graduating, she joined us as a Skills Development Specialist, working with residents when they return from their day programs. Here's what they have to say about working at Hillside House:
Bernie: "My morning job often focuses on "taking"; I'm looking to give back with the time I have in afternoons and evenings."
Diana: "I want to go to physical therapy grad school and working here will help me in the admission process."
Cara: "I like Hillside House; it's rewarding. It makes me feel like my life has meaning."
Mike: "I like to help people."
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