Supporting Families in Caring for Family Members

Meridian Services' In-Home Services offers training, care and supervision to families and caregivers who have children or adults with developmental disabilities living in their homes or in foster care settings. Licensed In-Home Services are centered in the consumer's home and in the community, as designated by the consumer, family, and case manager.

Our staff meet with the family, interdisciplinary team members, and the consumer regularly so that expectations can be understood and met. It has always been a priority for Meridian Services to provide In-Home Services as unobtrusively as possible, by respecting the family culture, tailoring the program to family and consumer needs, and being flexible in individual schedule design.

Our In-Home Services program supports families in caring for family members so that they are able to remain in their family homes. We have designed these services to honor each family's routines, values, and hopes for their loved ones, while providing those we serve with goals and activities that foster as much independence as possible.

Developing a Plan

We offer person-centered planning to all of our consumers. We are committed to getting to know the values of each person we serve. This consumer-directed approach to goal development allows individuals to realize their dreams.

We work closely with the people who know them best such as family members, spouses, friends, extended family, case managers, and primary care givers to develop the most comprehensive, meaningful plan to assist our consumers with attaining lifelong outcomes. These planning methods may include "Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope" (PATH) or "Essential Lifestyle Planning" (ELP).

Training and Services

The primary purpose in all In-Home Services programs is to support consumers as they develop to their fullest potential, achieving the most normal lifestyle possible. Some areas of training upon which we focus include daily living activities (appropriate social skills, health/fitness, community integration, recreation and leisure interests), environmental and behavioral strategies designed to minimize maladaptive behaviors, academic skills (signing, writing, basic math skills, fine and gross motor skills) and independent living skills (time and money management, transportation training, domestic tasks, problem solving skills, and personal hygiene). Our staff reinforce achievement through praise to the consumer in a predictable, positive environment.

The In-Home Services program also provides assistance in supporting the consumer through administering medications, coordinating medical/psychiatric appointments and providing transportation, crisis intervention, making referrals to other professional services needed, and assisting families with utilizing waivered money to attain necessary adaptive technology and environmental modifications. We will also provide nursing consultation for special medical needs.