50/50

Wrap around services are not meant to take the place of family as caregivers.

Their responsibilities include taking Paul to doctor and hospital visits.
Arrange travel to and from Paul's work and activities.
They are the housecleaners and personal care attendants.
These services work with the doctors to help Paul with his care and physical needs.

Are they perfect?
Nope.

Does the family need to stay involved regularly in order to make sure that Paul's care doesn't suffer?
Yes.

Are they very concerned about Paul and do they want family involvement?
Yes.

Do they care as much and in the way that Paul's family does and will?
Nope.

Honestly, it is a 50/50 proposition with dealing and handling the Wrap-Around services for those with disabilities. Half the time they are right on top of it however...the other 50 percent they are in transition between new care givers, new policies, new rules and very little in the way of continuity for those they work.

This is why it is very important that a family member becomes and stays involved. No, I am not talking on a yearly basis or semi-annual one. I am talking monthly and consistent follow-ups with surprise visits.

I have become so use to the services faltering and bordering on neglect where my brother's care is concerned that I am a nag about making sure surprise visits are done quarterly. Would be more if I lived in Montana however, it isn't possible at this time. I do maintain consistency in communications, except when one of the other guardians (aka lil sis) wants to handle it. I do however, maintain a distant observation as she will always take off in another direction and Paul and his services still need consistency.

Mom and lil sis think the services should run perfectly with minimal interference. They think it is micro-managing because I want more involvement. I completely disagree. It is NOT micro-managing keeping in consistent communication and quarterly visits to make sure they are completing their jobs in a manner that Paul needs in order to maintain independence.

Visits keep them honest. Too many times they have lied in emails about Paul and his care. We only found out because we showed up to find that many necessary things were not being done as needed for Paul. Things like showers, toiletries, food supply, money, eating habits and cleanliness of Paul's apartment and clothes. Yep the basics were suffering and Paul's behaviors got worse. I saw the inter-departmental communications and I knew what was happening so family went in person and guess what? Things are put back in order and consistency and training is back where it needs to be.

Remember 50/50.