Transitioning Out of a Nursing Home  

Every once in a while, life presents unfamiliar  situations, uncertainty of what the immediate future has in store, and we find ourselves looking for answers.   For Alma resident Ruthann Simon-Duggan, life had done just that. After several surgeries, Ruthann had been living in a nursing home for several months. It was evident she would not be able to return to her home, where she'd lived for over twenty years. Ruthann didn't feel living in a nursing home was the best fit for her, but she wasn't aware of any other options.

"And then I met Cindy and the best thing she did was listen to me," said Ruthann.   Cindy Martin is  the Nursing Facility Transition (NFT) Program Leader at Disability Network Mid-Michigan.

As part of the NFT program, Cindy met with Ruthann to discuss the possibility of moving out of the nursing home. "Our primary focus is on what the individual wants and needs," said Cindy. "The NFT program is about promoting independent living, based on those wants and needs. In Ruthann's case, we needed to find affordable, subsidized housing, closer to  town with easy access to her friends and community.

In many transition cases, the individual may need certain accommodations at their new home. The NFT program helps provides a wide variety of items, ranging from furniture and groceries to cleaning products and walkers.  "I have someone come in to help clean the floors and I get Meals On Wheels," said Ruthann of some of the accommodations she requested. "But I also needed simple things like dining chairs with arms to help me get up and Cindy provided those for me."

When asked what the biggest change was from nursing home residency to living independently, Ruthann laughed and said: "I don't have to worry about a roommate snoring all the time. But,  seriously, being able to make my own meals and not having to wait for someone to do something for me. I can be independent because of what Cindy and her team have done for me."

For more information about the nursing facility transition program, please call 989-835-4041. 

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It's a Garden Party!  

Disability Network has joined numerous organizations and area residents in the Circle Area Community Garden project. On May 30th, STAGES participants and other volunteers planted everything from lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots to hot peppers, chives, and nasturtium.   

Several Midland-area Master Gardeners, including Disability Network's own Marcia Balcirak, are helping out with the planting, maintenance and harvesting of the 27 plots that make up the garden.  Each plot is 4' x 12' and most incorporate a square foot planting design.  

"We think this is a wonderful opportunity for our students," said Lowell Gisel, STAGES Program Leader at Disability Network. "The garden project will help teach work skills, healthy living, meal preparation, and teamwork. And, perhaps more importantly, it's just a lot of fun.

For more information on the Circle Area Community Garden Project, please email Lowell Gisel or call 989-835-4041. 

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 Colonel Injured In Iraq Lands Role in "Battleship" 

Greg Gadson's departure from Baghdad was a sudden one. Gadson, then a lieutenant colonel with the Second Battalion and 32nd Field Artillery, was returning from a memorial service for two soldiers when his vehicle passed a roadside bomb on May 7, 2007. He awakened days later at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., his legs amputated above the knees.  

 

"When you come to grips with the injuries like that, you don't think of anything in your future," Gadson said. "I never imagined anyone outside the military would be interested in me." Turns out a lot of folks were, including the New York Giants, National Geographic, and now Hollywood. Gadson makes his acting debut in "Battleship," playing Lt. Col. Mick Canales, a veteran struggling with recovery, much as Gadson himself did.

 

A 24-year veteran and director of the Army's Wounded Warrior program, Gadson, now a colonel, says his goal in rehabilitation was simply to walk again. Not only would he regain mobility on "power prosthetic" legs - artificial limbs equipped with gyroscopes, accelerators and hydraulics to emulate a knee - Gadson would become a symbol of recovery. After the news media picked up his story, he began fielding offers to be a motivational speaker and to take up the cause for the wounded veterans. 

 

Gadson tailored a simple but resonant theme: "Whenever you have a formidable task, instead of looking up, look down. Literally take it one step at a time. You'll be overwhelmed by the broader view."

 

"Battleship" director Peter Berg read an article about  Gadson in "National Geographic" and tried for three weeks to offer him a part in the movie. But every time he called, Berg was met with skepticism. "He kept thinking I was an Army buddy trying to prank him," says Berg, who introduced Gadson at the L.A. premier of "Battleship" to a standing ovation. "I finally had to fly out to D.C. to convince him."

 

"I know it's clichéd, but Colonel Gadson is a walking example of positive energy," Berg says. "He has no sense of self-pity. You wouldn't believe the energy he brought to the set."

 

 

 

Gadson says he is open to more film roles, as long as they don't interfere with his current mission. "As a service member, there are a lot of people who have endured what I have, but their paths won't be highlighted," Gadson says. "I want to speak up for them. I know we're not promised tomorrow. But there is a road ahead."

  

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Meet Karen Ostrander: DNMM's New STAGES Intern   

The Summer STAGES youth program begins its tenth summer this month. Interning with the STAGES staff is Karen Ostrander.  

Karen is a senior at Central Michigan University. She will graduate in August with a Bachelor of Social Work.  A native of Byron Center, MI, Karen has worked in several different summer camps, including Camp Geneva in Holland, MI, and Camp Huntington in New York.  Camp Huntington is a camp for people of all ages with physical and developmental disabilities.

Karen has been actively involved with Special Olympics, having volunteered at events over each of the last eight summers. While at CMU, she balances out her studies while participating in numerous campus organizations including Student Government, the CMU Competitive PomPon team, Sigma Delta Pi National Spanish Honors Fraternity, the Marching Chippewas, and the Audience of One dance team.

Karen comes to Disability Network after having spent six months studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina followed by a one-month pilgrimage through Spain for World Youth Day. 

For more information on the STAGES program, please contact Lowell Gisel at 989-835-4041 or visit our services page at www.dnmm.org.  

 FREE VETERANS HIRING FAIR 

Detroit's Cobo Center will be the site of an unprecedented Veteran-focused event, set to take place June 26-29, 2012.  

The 2012 National Veterans Conference, hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs, is expected to bring thousands of Veterans, employers, business owners and Veteran advocates to Detroit. The conference brings together three key components:  a three-day Hiring Fair, a three-day Open House and the National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo.   

2012 National Veteran Small Business Conference and Expo in Detroit

The Veteran Hiring Fair, which is free to Veterans seeking jobs, will bring together federal and private industry hiring managers, job coaches, and human resource professionals to provide Veterans with everything from job search skills and career counseling, to resume writing workshops, interview coaching, and on-the-spot job interviews. 

The Hiring Fair is a is a three-day event, Tuesday, June 26 through Thursday, June 28, from 10am-7pm

We are asking all Veterans to register in advance at: www.VAforVets.va.gov/Detroit.  

For additional details visit: www.nationalveteransconference.com 

 Legislative Updates:  

Nursing Facility Transition Program Fully Funded!    

Hundreds of people called and wrote letters to legislators urging them to continue funding so people can transition out of nursing facilities back to our communities.  

And Lansing heard you! 

The Senate and House came to consensus on the Community Mental Health budget bill, HB 5365. The bill is now headed to the Governor where it is expected he will sign it with no line-item vetoes.

The  bill includes full funding for the Nursing Facility Transition Initiative (NFTI), for which we all have been advocating. MI Choice will receive $282.3 million altogether next year; up significantly from this year. 

The additional MI Choice monies are allocated as follows:

• $24.6 million to transition people from nursing homes to the community;
• $11.7 million to serve people on the waiting list/nursing home diversions;
• $16.1 million to annualize last year's transition costs.

Thanks again for your efforts to assure people get the support they need to live in our community!

CMU's CALL Program Receives $50,000 in Funding

On Tuesday, $50,000 in state funding was approved for a Central Michigan University initiative that aids in diagnosis and instructional planning for young children with low-incidence disabilities.

CMU's Central Assessment Lending Library (CALL) program provides tests, rating scales and instructional materials appropriate for use with children from birth through age 8 who have low-incidence disabilities, including those with autism or hearing, motor, visual or severe cognitive impairments.

"This program provides important services to meet the unique needs of children with certain disabilities, including an extensive library of up-to-date tests designed specifically for these children," said State Senator Judy Emmons, (R-Sheridan). "The CALL program is one of many CMU programs that provide a great service to K-12 school districts throughout Michigan. The program is also cost-efficient. For a relatively small investment, this program can have an enormous impact on a child's life and academic success."

Volunteers Needed!  

The Disability Network passenger van needs some light bodywork and painting. We're looking for some volunteers to help with these repairs.   

If you are able and willing to help, or for more information on what type of work is needed, please give us a call at 989-835-4041 or email us at info@dnmm.org

Your help is greatly appreciated!!!     

 Free Fishing Weekend! 

This weekend, June 9th and 10th, families and friends can enjoy one of Michigan's premiere outdoor activities, Michigan Fishing, for FREE!  

For many, the annual Free Fishing Weekend has become a tradition - a time to get together and have some fishing fun. While some may find time to reflect while fishing, there are no limits to variations on a great theme!  

Experienced anglers who offer a child or young adult the chance to take their first fishing trip can provide a rewarding experience for all. People who fish tend to understand the natural aquatic network of plants and animals that help to sustain fish as well as the regulations that govern fishing in Michigan.

Michigan offers some of the finest freshwater fishing in the world, with more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, over 11,037 inland lakes and 36,350 miles of rivers and streams. Included are 12,000 miles of trout waters, for which approximately 1,000 miles are considered Michigan's finest.

So grab a pole and your family and friends, and let's go fishing!

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