ExpertCare Newsletter

April 2008

 



April is Autism Awareness Month

 

What Is Autism?

Autism is a devastating neurological and biological disorder typically affecting children between the ages of 18 months to five years of age. Autism affects each individual differently and at different levels of severity. Some individuals with autism are severely affected, cannot speak, require constant one on one care, and are never able to live on their own. While others are less severe, can communicate, and eventually acquire the necessary skills to live on their own.

Typically autism affects individuals in four key areas:

1) Communication (verbal and non verbal)

2) Social skills

3) Behaviors

4) Learning

Do symptoms of autism change over time?
For many children, autism symptoms improve with treatment and with age.  Some children with autism grow up to lead normal or near-normal lives.  Children whose language skills regress early in life, usually before the age of 3, appear to be at risk of    developing epilepsy or seizure-like brain activity.  During adolescence, some children with autism may become depressed or experience behavioral problems.  Parents of these children should be ready to adjust treatment for their child as needed. 

Consumer Hospitalization

 

If you are authorized to work with a consumer in a residential setting and then the consumer is hospitalized, Expert Care’s authorization to provide CLS and respite are suspended by the county for the duration of the hospitalization.  It is the hospital’s job to take care of the consumer. We appreciate that you may want to ensure the consumer receives the best care possible, but employees cannot be paid when the consumer is in the hospital. The county cannot authorize ExpertCare employees to provide services because the consumer’s insurance will not allow billing of both for the same time period.

Once a consumer is hospitalized the caregiver should call ExpertCare as soon as possible.

ExpertCare.com is here

Have you checked out our website? There is so much information you can access from Expertcare.com. You can view previous months newsletters on line.

Did you make a mistake on your timesheet or notes?  No problem! You can now print off timesheets/notes for the county you work in.  If you are available for more work ,you are one easy click away from checking out job postings in your area.  Scheduling for training classes has never been so easy.

Log on today!

 

 

Camperships for Children with Disabilities

Easter Seals – Michigan is now accepting applications for financial assistance for camperships for children with disabilities who would like to attend summer camp. Applicants must meet financial criteria for assistance and camperships are awarded on a first come, first served basis. Applications can be downloaded at www.essmichigan.org click the resources link. For information contact us at angel@essmichigan.org or 1 (800) 75- SEALS or (248) 451-2900.

Inexpensive or free activities for consumers to check out:

 

www.Gocitykids.co

www.Metroparent.com