Residential Care Observation

As an intern at Preferred Family Healthcare, I am working with individuals in the Residential Care Facility (RCF). I am working with these individuals who's goal it is to move out of a residential setting into their own apartment. I have been facilitating a group comprised of three men. These men range in ages ***** but all have the same goal of wanting to move out on their own. Preferred Family Healthcare RCF staff meets weekly to discuss and identify the needs and concerns of these individuals. I also have been attending these meetings in order to learn about the residents as well as interject when possible the behaviors that I have seen. I collaborate with staff in order to help these gentlemen explore the goals identified by staff

I knew a minimal amount about two of the gentlemen prior to our groups and had not met the other previously. We began our meetings by establishing rapport and getting to know each other. We spent a lot of time brainstorming goals that each person had for themselves in order to get moved out on their own. I knew very little about what brought these gentlemen to live on the RCF or what their life was like prior to them being there. I knew that their placement in the intensive program meant that staff believed they had potential to achieve their goal to move out on their own. I encouraged each of the gentlemen to consider what goal they would like to work toward first.

During the course of our initial visits the gentlemen filled out a change plan worksheet, which helped them decide what goal they would like to choose. This worksheet went

A couple of these gentleman have guardians and one does not. This has an influence the gentlemen and is one more person to have input on their ability to move out and when that will happen. These gentlemen have all been working on their goals. One has been reluctant to participate and verbalizes that he is willing to work toward exhibiting for staff and his guardian that he can take his medications with no prompts. He was in the contemplation stage of change, but has yet not committed to any action that he is willing to take. Therefore, he seems to be moving between the pre contemplation and contemplation stage. The second gentleman, who has identified that he would like to quit smoking is moving between contemplation and preparation stages of change. He has a plan in place and has twice identified quit dates yet has not taken the steps he has identified toward quitting smoking. Finally, the third gentleman who identified that he wanted to learn his medications has moved through, contemplation, preparation and action to achieve his goal in two short weeks. He has been able to exhibit for staff his knowledge of his medications and while he does not verbalize his feelings well, is able to show others his pride with the big smile on his face. He is now in the maintenance stage regarding this