Menorah Park Center for Senior Living has Looking aHead a program for those with brain injuries

COMMUNITY RE-ENTRY PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURIES

Housed in the Menorah Park Adult Day Center, the Looking aHead program supports work-age adults who have survived an acquired brain injury. Acquired brain injuries include traumatic injuries such as open and closed head injuries, as well as stroke, anoxia and encephalitis. Upon completion of traditional rehabilitation, Looking aHead provides work-adjustment training. The program targets development and refinement of the vocational and life skills needed to return to work and successfully re-enter the community.

Clients attend the program three five days per week. Core Components of the program focus on skills and abilities necessary to function successfully in the work place and in the community – Daily Living , Health and Wellness, Personal Adjustment, and Vocational. The group setting provides a supportive environment in which skills can be refined with the assistance of a peer group and staff who are sensitive to the unique challenges faced by individuals with brain injuries.

DAILY LIVING SKILLS

Personal Care
Decision Making
Problem Solving
Organization and Planning
Time Management
Functional Mathematics
Home Management

PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT TRAINING

Communications
Assertiveness Training
Sexuality
Behavior Management

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Nutrition/ Fitness
Personal Safety Skills
Proper Body Mechanics/ Ergonomics
Basic First Aid
Handling Life Situations
Anatomy and Function of the Brain
Coping with Stress/Anxiety/Depression
Building Self-Esteem
Adjustment to Disability

VOCATIONAL LINK

Exploring Vocational Options
Development of Basic Work Skills
Job Seeking Skills
Resume Writing/ Interview Skills
Commitment to Quality Standards of Work
Performance Negotiating Architectural Barriers
Using Public Transportation
Community Resources and Activities

The program offers inclusive assessment and individualized care plans, with a primary focus on basic work habits/skills and community re-entry.

The Looking aHead Outreach Staff is comprised of professionals in the disciplines of art, horticultural and occupational therapies.

In addition to the Core Components of the program, the trainees operate a greenhouse as a small business year on-site. Besides basic plant propagation and maintenance, the trainees are responsible for all other elements of a small business including organization, planning and budgeting.

Potential work trial situations exist throughout the Menorah Park campus and in the surrounding community in the areas of retail, direct service and horticulture. Progress is reviewed monthly and additional training is provided if needed.

When appropriate, trainees can take advantage of outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Looking aHead actively explores payment assistance options, including Medicaid Waiver, Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities,The Rehabilitation Services Commission (BVR/BSVI), Bureau of Workers Compensation (BWC) and private insurance.

For more information, contact Looking aHead Director Debbie Zukowski, OTR/L at 216.839.6685 or dzukowski@menorahpark.org.

Menorah Park Center for Senior Living
27100 Cedar Road
Beachwood, OH 44122
For more information, call Debbie Zukowski, OTR/L at 216.839.6685

Looking aHead is accredited by the National Accreditation Council for agencies serving people with blindness or visual impairment.

NAC high