Daily Living and Skills Development for Adults
Individuals with diagnosed mental illness can live more independently when they have the support they need as they work to meet their goals to improve their overall quality of life.
Our Daily Living Support Specialists help people with a mental health diagnosis in both basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs and IADLs). The Assistance Plus SKILLS Development Program works to support clients’ connections with their community resources as a foundation for independent living (i.e. guardians, social networks, educational resources, civic engagement, and cultural participation).
Daily Living Support
We align this side-by-side assistance to each client’s treatment plan, as they work to maintain their independence, quality of life, and pursue their goals in areas such as personal hygeine, physical health, domestic management, and community integration.
Our qualified Daily Living Support Specialist team works closely with guardians and case managers to provide high-quality services tailored to each client.
Services Provided:
The Assistance Plus Daily Living Support and Skills development team can;
- Develop individual plans with the client and/or guardians.
- Assist with the reduction/prevention of psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, residential treatment, and/or criminal justice involvement.
- Develop client-centered goals around Activities of Daily Living
- Supervisors and field staff are trained in crisis intervention and CPR/First Aid and receive quality clinical supervision and training focusing on the latest practices in support of adults with mental health challenges.
Areas of Support:
Side By Side assistance with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs):
- Medication Support: Side-by-side prompting as clients fill/refill, organize, and take prescribed medication.
- Independent Living: Side-by-side support as clients maintain personal living space.
- Financial: Side-by-side assistance as clients manage their personal finances, including budgeting, paying bills, and avoiding scams.
- Community Integration: Side-by-side assistance as clients meet their basic needs (groceries, clothing, and other necessities).
- Side-by-side assistance to clients in their connection to community resources.
- Meal Preparation: Side-by-side assistance as clients plan, prepare, and cook meals and clean up afterwards.
- Communication and Technology Use: Teaching clients basic communication skills and use of technology, like phones and computers.
Skills Development
The Assistance Plus Skills Development Program works to support clients’ connections with their community resources as a foundation for independent living (i.e. guardians, social networks, educational resources, civic engagement, and cultural participation).
Both programs use individualized treatment planning to support each client’s goals. Field staff focus on supporting the client as they work to achieve those goals and build independence.
Each Assistance Plus Daily Living Support Specialist and Skills staff is carefully matched to each client and treatment plans are reviewed and revised quarterly to ensure client progress.
Supervisors and field staff are trained in crisis intervention and CPR/First Aid.
In addition to these trainings, staff are provided with quality clinical supervision and training opportunities intended to build their knowledge of the latest practices in working with adults who have mental health challenges.
Funding Sources
- Active MaineCare coverage.
- Grant funds for those who qualify and do not have full MaineCare.
- Private pay.
Eligibility Criteria
- Age 18 or emancipated
- Documentation of a qualifying mental health diagnosis that is under one year old and is considered eligible under the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- For those without an eligible diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, a clinical letter attesting to the need for Daily Living Support (DLS) or Skills Development due to the following at-risk criteria:
- Homelessness
- Psychiatric hospitalization
- Criminal justice involvement
- Residential mental healthcare placement
Other Eligibility Criteria :
- Proof of ‘Blue Paper’.
- Discharge from PNMI within 2 years of referral date.
- 2 or more psychiatric admissions (min. 72 hrs inpatient within 2 yrs. of referral date.)
Assistance Plus provides these services throughout Mid-Coast, Central, and Western Maine (Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Somerset, Sagadahoc, Oxford, Penobscot, and Waldo Counties.)