Family Support

Family Support provides assistance to families associated with Bethesda that have a member (child, teen or adult) with a disability at home. 

The home is typically the best environment to grow up in no matter what an individual’s disability, so family support is often defined as "whatever it takes" to help a person from being placed outside the natural home. We also recognize that an individual’s disability can be of such a challenge that placement outside of the home would be in the best interest of the individual as well as for the family.

The delivery of support is "family-centered." Services  allow families to make informed decisions, be sensitive to the needs of the entire family and be flexible enough to satisfy the unique needs of different families.

Helping families can help eliminate some of the stress that a family experiences in trying to meet the unique needs of a family member with a disability. Providing supports for an individual with a disability in his/her natural home helps maintain his/her quality of life.

Support provided to families reflects the biblical model of the family unit and emphasizes the power and effectiveness of an integrated service delivery system including the family, friends, the church, professionals, community services and school.

Residential

"Home" to persons served is the focus of  residential services. It is the place where each individual has ownership of his/her environment in experiencing security and privacy to meet intellectual, physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. "Home" helps a person to lead a life of happiness, fulfillment and contentment. 

People who come to the home – family, friends, staff, social workers, licensing officers, HSCL workers, community professionals – are visitors who must honour and respect the individual in his/her home. Positive relationships are the primary strength and characteristic of the home.

Support from workers within the home contributes to a warm and nurturing environment. It is a place where the individual gains a healthy sense of belonging, of being loved and of loving others. It is a place where learning opportunities are provided in addition to appropriate personal care. Each person has an Individualized Service Plan that recognizes strengths and documents strategies for meeting needs. Training opportunities are provided in a manner consistent with the principles of inclusion that are, in turn, consistent with Christian principles. As the individual gains skills, the support level is adjusted to recognize the personal growth that has happened and to focus more on other needs.

Sensitivity to the needs of the neighbourhood of the residence ensures that considerations of privacy, levels of acceptance/ participation and community education take place to develop a greater appreciation of each person's role as a citizen, disabled or not, of that community. The individual's rights to live in the community is safeguarded and he/she receives encouragement to exercise his/her rights in a responsible way.

Establishing a home plan for an individual is a complex process with many things to consider. The critical issue is to recognize that there is a variety of residential options to choose from and that the functioning level of the person will, to a large extent, determine the type of home service.

Day Options

Day Options is viewed as a continuum of therapeutic and leisure opportunities available to the individual based on ability and choice. Day options can be home-based or community-based.

The objective of Day Options is to strengthen the independence of the person being supported in such a way that promotes the inclusion of the person into his/her community. Day Options is designed to develop the abilities of the individual and to meet his/her needs as he/she experiences personal growth.

Questions and Answers

• What are Bethesda’s value and mission statements?

  • Mission: To support individuals with disabilities and their families

  • Values:  As ambassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will honour God and each person in all we do and with all of our resources

   

• How do I obtain services through Bethesda? 

  • Choosing Bethesda to support you or your family member should be put in writing to the Agency.  At some point early in the process you will need to meet with a Community Living BC (CLBC) facilitator in order to write a Support Plan and determine your eligibility for funding.

  • Once we receive your request and a support plan has been written that outlines your family member’s support needs, we are in a position to begin an assessment process to establish whether we are able to provide that support.

  • Depending on the level of support you are seeking, you may be waitlisted by either CLBC or Bethesda until a vacancy or funds become available.

   

• How do I know that you can meet my or my family member’s particular needs?

  • Our first concern is that we are able to provide your family member with safe and adequate support.  The kind of service (e.g. residential, day or home sharing) and the level of staffing required will also need to be assessed.

  • The facility design and renovations required as well as any special equipment will be also be assessed.

  • Information from existing professionals will be gathered and recommendations made for additional support requirements.

  • Approval by the Executive Director will only proceed once we have determined that we can meet your family member’s needs.

   

• Are there goals for each person supported and are they measured?

  • Bethesda’s person-centered plan is an organized process for determining satisfactory, effective and efficient support for your family member.

  • Eight outcomes, as defined by Community Living BC, serve as priorities around which we develop our support for your family member.

    • To be able to experience good emotional well being,

    • To be able to experience meaningful relationships,

    • To have the resources to do the things that are important,

    • To be able to have opportunities for personal development,

    • To be able to make informed decisions,

    • To be able to have opportunities for social inclusion, and

    • To be able to have rights respected

  • How well we are doing in fulfilling these outcomes is reported annually in Bethesda’s Outcomes Management Report which is available on the website at http://www.bethesdabc.com/accreditation.htm  The report helps us shape Strategic Planning Initiatives for each year. 

1. How are staff trained to provide services?

   • Resource and individual specific orientation occurs at the time support workers are hired or contracted to work with your family member.

   • Additional skills training in personal care, medical procedures and safe workplace practices are provided to staff.  First Aid/CPR and Food Safe are required and offered through Bethesda as well.

   • Leadership is trained in software that manages employee information and payroll.

    

2. Can I be involved in directing how I or my family member will be supported?

   • We encourage your involvement and input in helping your family member achieve his or her highest level of potential and quality of life.  You can do so on an informal basis or through annual goal or health care planning.

   • Each person has a person centered plan which addresses areas that are “important to” and “important for” your family member.  

   • Feedback is always welcome.  This only helps us to further improve the support your family member needs and wants.

   • Our commitment is to encourage the relationship between you and your family member and to keep you informed.  You should be included in decision-making, informed of changes in health and supported to stay involved with your loved one.