Archive for 2021

12Dec

Fun Things To Do During the Holiday Season (Updated)

Written by Godwin. Posted in Activities Written by Godwin on December 12, 2021. Posted in Activities

Although the weather outside may be frightful, there are plenty of reasons not to stay hunkered down inside this December and beyond. A lot of hot spots in Philly become hubs of activity in the winter. You’ll find lots of places to stroll, gawk at the sights, be inspired, and take pictures. And most of the ones listed below are free and accessible.

Christmas Light Show and Wanamaker Organ Concert

Dec. 1 – Dec. 24 (Closed Christmas Day), Dec. 26-31

Enjoy a longtime Philadelphia tradition. Since 1956, locals have flocked to the Christmas Light Show and Wanamaker Organ Concert, which is wheelchair accessible. Now at Macy’s Center City store in the historic Wanamaker Building, you can watch snowflakes, ballerinas, and reindeer float by against a blue velvet curtain. During the light show, 100,000 bright LED lights create fantastic holiday images. The shows run every two hours from 10 am to 8 pm. At the end of the light show, you’ll hear live festive music from the world-famous Wanamaker Grand Organ. Good, less crowded times for viewing the show are Monday through Thursday.

While you’re there, check out the third floor of Macy’s, which became a “Dickens Village” for the holidays. The 6,000 sq. ft. village brings Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to life with a free self-guided tour of an animatronic display that ends with a one-on-one with Santa.

Also worth a look: Macy’s animated Christmas street windows on the Market Street side.

Where: Macy’s is located in The Wanamaker Building at 13th & Market Streets. More details.

Christmas Village at LOVE Park

Nov. 24 – Dec. 24

Get into the holiday spirit at Christmas Village at LOVE Park in Philadelphia. Inspired by traditional European open-air Christmas markets, this shopper’s destination offers gifts and festive treats like warm waffles, gingerbread, and mulled wine. About 80 local and international vendors have set up shop here. Each day, street-side performances and special events will be held. For the brave, there are daily Ferris wheel and carousel rides. See the full Christmas Village calendar for upcoming events. The complete festival is wheelchair-accessible.

Where: N. 15th Street and Arch Street

More details about the Christmas Village

Here’s a vendor list.

Dilworth Park (multiple attractions)

Now – Apr. 3, 2022 (dates vary by attraction)

Head to Center City’s Dilworth Park to see seasonal attractions that have popped up for the holidays and beyond. Like ice skating? Then glide on over to Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink. Even if you prefer not to skate yourself, it’s always fun watching others zipping around. Relax with a hot cocoa at the Rothman Orthopaedics Cabin. And take a stroll through the seasonal plant arrangements and holiday topiary in the Wintergarden. On one side of City Hall, through Jan. 1 you can see a free Deck the Hall light show.

Something new this season is “Play the Lights,” an interactive instrument that works like a normal keyboard, only with technicolor visual effects that are projected onto the façade of City Hall when you play each note. While local professional pianists and organists will be around to showcase what’s possible with synchronized holiday music, you may also get a chance to try your hand at this. Every Tuesday and Wednesday night from 8:45 pm to 9:30 pm, visitors of all ages are welcome to try “playing the lights.”

Look for gifts like handcrafted trinkets, jewelry, and yummies like French toast bites and pretzels at the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market through Dec. 24. Elevators between the transit concourse and surface streets make Dilworth Park wheelchair-accessible.

Where: Dilworth Park, 1 S. 15th Street

Details

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest

From now to March 4, 2022

Check out the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, which turns Penn’s Landing into a wintry riverfront park. The Olympic-size ice skating rink, a ski chalet-style lodge and winter garden are like another world with outdoor seating, fire pits, cozy warming cabins, and arcade games. The Winterfest is a favorite for residents of every age and background. (Penn’s Landing is wheelchair-accessible. And you can take a Philly Phlash bus on the downtown loop to get to it.)

Where: Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest at 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard.

Details

Kwanzaa at the African American Museum

Dec. 26 (9:30 am –4:45 pm)

Celebrate the winter harvest by lighting kinara and enjoying music, dance, and stilt-walkers at The African American Museum in Philadelphia’s annual Kwanzaa event. (The museum offers barrier-free access for the physically disabled.)

Where: The African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch Street

Fireworks on the Waterfront

Dec. 31

If you would like to close out the year with fireworks, head on down to see Rivers Casino New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront. You can catch great views of the free fireworks displays which will take place twice on the last day of the year at 6 pm and midnight.

Where: Various locations at the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest at 101 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard.

Enjoy the month! And we wish you all a happy new year!

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24Jun

PTSD Awareness Month

Written by Marcea Cazel. Posted in Articles, News Written by Marcea Cazel on June 24, 2021. Posted in Articles, News

When some people hear about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), they often think of members of the military who return from war zones and react to loud noises. However, while veterans can get PTSD, it is a mental health problem that can happen to anyone. June is PTSD Awareness Month, so here is some information about this disorder and how health care workers and family members can assist those who suffer from it.

Approximately 3.5% of American adults have PTSD. But, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, anyone of any age and occupation can develop PTSD, including children. PTSD begins when someone is exposed to shocking, frightening, or dangerous experiences such as abuse, national disasters, combat, and accidents. While traumatic incidents do cause hesitation or fearfulness, some people eventually recover. It’s when that recovery process doesn’t begin after a certain amount of time that someone could have PTSD.

Brief History

While PTSD has been around since the beginning of time, it hasn’t always been acknowledged as a disorder. In fact, it was often mocked or thought to be a cause of weakness. There is documentation of soldiers in the Civil War having anxiety and trouble breathing. Writers such as Shakespeare, Charlotte Bronte, and F. Scott Fitzgerald have included characters in their works that today would be determined to have PTSD. After World War I, some soldiers were diagnosed with what was then called ‘shell shock.’ However, shell shock was not a medical term, so treatments, if they happened at all, were often crude and harsh. Then the American Psychiatric Association (APA) included Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome in its manual for mental disorders in 1980. This helped distinguish PTSD from being considered a failing to it being acknowledged as something that affected people and that they did not have control over. And, as a medical diagnosis, opened the way for those who have it to begin receiving care and treatment.

Warning Signs of PTSD

While PTSD affects everyone differently, some signs that may indicate someone is having problems adjusting to a traumatic situation include:

Being easily startled
Avoiding areas that remind them of the event
Flashbacks
Irritability
Nightmares or night terrors
Irrational behavior
Loss of interest in favorite activities
Depression

These symptoms aren’t inclusive, and everyone reacts differently to trauma. However, when the incident continues to impact someone after more than a few months and begins to interfere with their daily lives, they may have PTSD.

How To Treat PTSD

While people who have PTSD may feel it’s something that they have to live with, the good news is that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is treatable. Treatment may be through therapy, medication, or combining the two based on what the patient and their doctor decide will work best for them. To get started in finding help, the PTSD Alliance suggests speaking with a family doctor, finding support groups, or for military veterans, contact the Veterans Crisis Line for assistance.

When Someone You Know Has PTSD

Dealing with someone who is affected by PTSD can be very hard on friends, co-workers, and family members. The National Center for PTSD states that living with someone with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can be traumatic in itself. That’s because the avoidance mechanism that occurs with someone who has the disorder affects how they interact with those around them. For example, the symptoms can significantly affect children whose parents have PTSD and can cause them to feel as if it’s their fault or hinder their ability to learn how to interact with others.

What can someone do to help someone they know with PTSD? First and foremost, be patient with them. Their symptoms aren’t controllable and might be as frustrating to them as the symptoms to you. Being patient might not be easy, but it is helpful to the person who has the disorder. Also, make sure to educate yourself about the condition. In addition to the National Institute of National Health and the National Center for PTSD, many national and local groups work diligently to providing assistance and help. Also, it may be necessary for family members to enter therapy independently to work through their feelings.

Casmir Care Services is a leading agency that provides quality, effective, person-center services in the individual’s home. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities through care, comfort, and compassion. Our Direct Care Professionals treat all individuals and their families with respect and trained specifically to work with those with developmental issues. If you are looking to find in-home support for your family member, contact us to see how we can help.

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10Mar

A Family Business Built on Principles of Family-Centered Care

Written by Marcea Cazel. Posted in Articles, News Written by Marcea Cazel on March 10, 2021. Posted in Articles, News

Improving the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities through care, comfort and compassion is Casmir Care Services’ mission. Fostering that mission is Director of Operations, Godwin Nwoga. Godwin has been with Casmir for the past ten years and while his educational background wasn’t in-home care, showing compassion is a family tradition.

Casmir, a family business built on principles of family-centered care needed Godwin to bring his finance and project management skills to the team. While this may be a stretch for some, it wasn’t for Godwin because his mother raised him to care for others.

“Right from a very young age, my parents, especially my mom, taught us a lot about compassion and being compassionate to people who you don’t stand to get anything from. Especially people who are in need,” he said. “It’s like an in-bred thing for us all in my family.”

In addition to his mother ingraining caring into him, Godwin says that growing to care for the individuals and families that the Casmir Care team supports wasn’t hard for him.

“It wasn’t difficult adjusting. True, my background was in operations, management and finance. But I grew to love the population and with the compassion I already had, it wasn’t difficult. It’s all based on family values, which is what our company embraces and champions on a day-to-day basis.”

And while Godwin is in charge of the day-to-day operations at Casmir Care, that doesn’t mean that he’s behind a desk all day doing administrative work. He’s often visiting homes, helping with, and getting to know the Direct Support Professionals and the individuals that Casmir Care serves.

Godwin acknowledges that the industry has changed over the past year and that Casmir Care has had to adjust. In addition to having purchased additional PPE and other safety equipment to protect those in their care and employment, temporary satellite locations were created so that staff could have a place to stay without putting their own families at risk.

There has also been a planned effort to ensure that staff, individuals and their families are up to date on the latest information, including providing CDC research on the vaccine. Casmir Care Services knows that engaging everyone about the need for immunity and getting the vaccine will bring the country through the pandemic.

Godwin praised the Casmir Care staff for the work they’ve done over the past year. “We had to dig deep to be flexible and do things differently, in line with the unprecedented changes due to the pandemic. But we’ve had exceptional staff who have gone the extra mile to make sure that our individuals are taken care of. We have staff that have gone above and beyond,” he said. “But the changes we experienced did not alter our philosophy for caring for our individuals. We’ve tried to stay strong on our vision – providing quality, effective, person-centered, flexible and innovative services.”

Speaking of the community, Godwin wants Casmir Care Services to remain a bridge in their community, in addition to providing in-home care. Finding employment for those with intellectual disabilities, helping with transportation to their jobs, and coming together with community partners becomes a powerful resource to the individuals. “The families can’t do it alone,” said Godwin.

Having staff who are going the extra mile during hard times isn’t luck. Casmir Care Services takes great efforts to make sure that everyone who works for them understands that compassion for others is key to success at Casmir. Godwin says that from the start of the employment process, the agency preaches compassion. And there’s also continuous training taking place.

But having compassion isn’t the only skill that Casmir Care Services is looking for in quality employees, said Godwin. Casmir is also looking for patience, flexibility, honesty, creativity, and empathy. Attention to detail is essential as well. A lot is going on with individuals, and going that extra mile is imperative in keeping individuals happy and safe. Also, engaging individuals and working towards their goals and milestones is a skill Casmir Care expects of their caregivers.

“Over time we hope that they (the employees) understand it’s not about financial gains – it’s about being able to add value to the lives of other people,” he said. “I want employees to look beyond this being just a job, it’s a profession. We’re coming to interact as a family. To bring about a change.”

And the family atmosphere is what Godwin enjoys so much about working at Casmir Care Services. There’s no red tape, and he has an open door and phone policy where employees can speak with management without fear of persecution. That open door allows for innovation and conversations that help make Casmir Care a better company.

When not spending time with his work family, Godwin enjoys spending time with his wife and children. Relaxing isn’t hard for him because he knows that he and his Casmir Care team have done their best for individuals and their families.

“I am able to relax at home with my family, with the understanding that in our capacity and to the best of our ability, we have done our best to ensure the health and safety of our individuals,” Godwin said.

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23Oct

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)

Written by Marcea Cazel. Posted in Articles, News Written by Marcea Cazel on October 23, 2021. Posted in Articles, News

Every October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Started in 1945 by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), NDEAM was created to help educate people about issues and biases that can occur with disability employment and to also bring light to the contributions that Americans with disabilities bring to their companies.

According to the DOL, more than 18 million United States citizens with disabilities work either full-time or part-time. Across all age groups, an individual with a disability is less likely to be employed than someone without one. That could be for a variety of reasons including the disability doesn’t allow them to work and also because of discrimination. Helping to educate and eliminate biases against individuals with disabilities is a goal of NDEAM as well as with Casmir Cares.

What Is a Disability?

NPR discovered in one study that 1 in 7 people on Earth is disabled. With the percentage of those who are disabled being employed going down 2 percent over the past year, making concerted efforts to attract and hire an individual with a disability is more important than ever. But what is considered a disability?

Defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as being both physical and mental conditions, despite some beliefs, disabilities are not always visible. Conditions including diseases, deafness, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, blindness, intellectual disabilities, and loss of limbs qualify as a disability. Employers need to be careful not to make pre-employment inquiries about a potential employee’s perceived disability. Every applicant needs to be treated the same. Employers are allowed to ask if applicants can prefer the job, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Even after hiring, employers need to be careful with what they ask and how they treat employees. Well-trained Human Resource departments will be up to date with the laws and should always be consulted by managers to ensure all employees are being treated equally and fairly.

It is illegal for employers to discriminate against qualified individuals who have a disability. This applies to both private employers and government agencies.

How Employers Help Those with Disabilities

The best way to include employees with disabilities is to treat them like every other employee. Whether you can visibly see the disability, or you assume an employee might have a disability, the key to not making judgments to be inclusive. The DOL provides suggestions on how employers can have a year-round strategy on how to advance disability inclusion including:

Hosting a lunch and learn session for employees on disability issues
Providing volunteer hours to employees to help at an organization that assists those with disabilities
Having disability training in onboarding for all employees
Offering classes in American Sign Language to help employees be able to foster better communication between employees who have their hearing and those who are deaf

Another way employers can be inclusive is to actively recruit applicants from organizations that assist in preparing those with disabilities for work. Nonprofits such as Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind, The Arc, and Easterseals work towards providing training and placement to prepare people for the work world. There are also sites like abilityJOBs, GettingHired, and Inclusive that accept job postings from organizations that are interested in becoming more inclusive and interviewing and hiring those with disabilities. Working directly with these organizations can make the process easier for employers who are becoming more inclusive and may need some guidance and education.

Casmir Cares Can Help

Casmir Cares is dedicated to providing vocational assessments, resume and interview preparation, job coaching, and travel training to help empower individuals to successfully integrate into their communities with employment and training. Our job coaches are committed to networking with local community businesses to obtain the best employment match for each individual.

Casmir Cares is also a member of the Philadelphia Employment Forum. A group of representatives from different organizations and parents, the forum is dedicated to promoting employment for those with disabilities. By promoting the philosophy of work and employment for all individuals with disabilities in the Philadelphia area, our goal is to influence and shape policies while educating employers about the many advantages of hiring individuals who happen to have disabilities.

For more information on how Casmir Cares can help your business locate qualified applicants, contact us and we can talk.

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13Jun

Nurse at Casmir Care Services

Written by Casmir Staff. Posted in Job Opportunities Written by Casmir Staff on June 13, 2021. Posted in Job Opportunities

Nurse

We are looking for a talented individual who shares our dedication to the people we serve and support, to bring on board as a Nurse. We are dedicated to supporting people as they strive for increasing independence, personal growth, and opportunities in their communities. We believe that every person is unique and, therefore, everyone’s path and needs are unique. Our approach to care puts the needs of the people and communities we serve at the center of every decision. If you are a positive and personable individual looking for a satisfying and flexible opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people with intellectual/ developmental disabilities, join our team!

Responsibilities and duties:

Monitor healthcare needs of individuals receiving services.
delivering nursing care and coordinating nursing activities as a member of the management team
Contact and communicate with Primary care Physicians, Dentists, and other healthcare specialists as needed.
Complete all necessary documentation and miscellaneous reports as requested.
Conduct training for administrative and direct support staff on health-related topics that supports the overall health and well-being of the individuals we support.
Review medication administration records to ensure accurate and up-to-date information.
Administers prescribed medications and treatments in accordance with approved nursing standards.
Takes temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and other vital signs to detect deviations from the norm. Assesses condition of individuals supported monthly and/or per physician order.
Help develop protocols, policies, and procedures (including training materials) to assist in supporting the healthcare needs of the individuals we support
Maintain individual’s confidentiality per company policy and HIPAA privacy rule regulations.
Attend recognized training to successfully maintain professional license
Attend training and conferences as directed by supervisors, in accordance with company policy and regulation as needed.
Attend required supervision sessions and staff meetings in accordance with program/company requirements.
Establish and maintain effective working relations with individuals, families, and staff from a variety of cultures and social backgrounds.
Conducts nursing and quality assurance assessments to monitor health, treatment, and sanitary conditions of residential homes.

Requirements

Registered Nurse with a current valid nursing license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Must have a strong knowledge of medical procedures, terminology, and equipment.
Two-year nursing experience or one year working with individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
Bachelor’s degree in nursing preferred.
Knowledge of intellectual disability and mental health system.

Excellent communication skills both oral and written.
The ability to lift and position patients of various weights to and from assorted patient equipment while maintaining patient comfort and safety.
The ability to carry, fold, kneel, reach, stack, stoop and bend which may include direct intervention with clients.
Possess manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
May require crisis intervention in emergency situations.
May be required to report to work during emergencies including inclement weather

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15Sep

Celebrating Direct Support Professionals

Written by Casmir Staff. Posted in Articles, News Written by Casmir Staff on September 15, 2021. Posted in Articles, News

Celebrating Direct Support Professionals

Direct Support Professional Recognition Week is September 12 -18. This week sets aside time to highlight the selfless work of direct support professionals locally and nationwide.

DSPs are an integral part of the lives of people in the community who have autism, intellectual or developmental disabilities. They are the heart and soul of everything we do at Casmir Care Services to help our individuals live fulfilled and happy lives.

In celebration of Direct Support Professionals, we acknowledge all of our dedicated direct support workers. We celebrate their hearts and the outstanding work they do to support people with disabilities.

We thank them for their tireless work and the difference they make in the lives of those we serve!

Two of our staff we especially want to mention are:

Daisy Williams

Casmir Care Services Inc. Residential Team is honored to spotlight Ms. Daisy Williams as an exceptional member of our DSP circle. Ms. Williams’ humility, hard work, and dedication to duty go back many years but have been even more evident during the pandemic. Daisy has been the mediator between the DSPs and Management. She is like a mother and grandma to some of our individuals who love her dearly. She has frequently been called “the last man standing” when all others give up. Casmir Care Services is very fortunate and blessed to have her on our Residential Team. We wish to express our appreciation and gratitude for her immeasurable dedication and endeavors untold.

Lisa Briggs-Petter

The HCBS Team would like to recognize Lisa Briggs-Petter as an outstanding DSP. We have seen her hard work and dedication to our individuals. She ensures their health and safety needs are met. Lisa exemplifies what a direct support professional should be. She makes the needs of her individuals a priority before anything else. Regardless of any other outside entities, she is always there. We can always count on her to show up and provide the best service.

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25Apr

Autism Awareness Month

Written by Marcea Cazel. Posted in Articles, News Written by Marcea Cazel on April 25, 2021. Posted in Articles, News

Children and adults who have autism face many challenges in their lifetime. According to the Center for Disease Control, over 5 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. And while physically, those with autism don’t look different, the way they interact is different. To help teach others about autism, how it affects those diagnosed and the impact on their families, April has been designated National Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month.

Originally called National Autism Awareness Month, some autism groups have begun to transition to calling it National Autism Acceptance Month. Autism Society President and CEO Christopher Banks said in a statement that they’ll always be working to spread awareness. Still, acceptance is a significant barrier “to finding and developing a strong support system.”

To help foster both awareness and acceptance, here is some more information about autism, how it affects individuals and their families, and how Casmir Care Services can provide assistance to those diagnosed with autism.

What Is Autism?

Also referred to as autism spectrum disorder, autism is a developmental disability. People who have autism have problems with communicating, interacting, and engaging. They sometimes also have repetitive and obsessive habits that can impact them and their families. Autism can’t be cured, does not have one standard set of symptoms and there is no known cause. But there are behavioral and educational treatments used by therapists and doctors, to help with development.

How It Affects The Family

Having a family member who has autism can be hard on parents, siblings, and grandparents. Autism Speaks reports that 1 in 54 children was diagnosed with autism in 2020, affecting many family members who need to develop skills to help with their child’s success. Some with autism are nonverbal, engage in harmful behaviors such as head banging, have emotional breakdowns or even experience sleep issues. All of the challenges involved with autism impact individual’s families on multiple levels. Parents want their children to be happy and safe, but if your child can’t communicate their needs clearly, it can be frustrating and disappointing. Siblings of autistic children may feel neglected or ignored. And even short trips to the store can be different with an autistic child.

Autism Doesn’t Limit You

Being diagnosed with autism doesn’t automatically mean that there will be no successes in the individual’s life. No matter how small, celebrating achievements can be a way to help the family see the progress their autistic family member is making. It’s also important to remember that every autistic person doesn’t have the same symptoms or react in the same ways. Autistic individuals are just that – individuals. They experience life in their way, just like every other human being. When you think of autism, be open-minded to what people who have autism can achieve. Many famous autistic people, including Apple founder Steve Jobs, animal scientist and professor Temple Grandin, artist Andy Warhol and chess champion Bobby Fisher have had great careers. Being diagnosed with autism doesn’t mean an individual won’t be able to function in society or not have a job.

Support For The Entire Family

Having support for families of individuals with autism is very important for many reasons. Individuals may need medical, physical, and mental health treatment. Some parents and families need professional counseling to help with the emotions involved in living with an autistic child. There are also autism support groups that can help by providing a sounding board for questions and also help individuals learn social skills.

One important form of support, no matter the autistic individual’s age, is having someone who is a trained professional on hand to help when parents or siblings need to take a step back. Being able to take a break, run errands or go on a short trip is important for a care taker’s own well-being. Knowing that a trained professional is with the autistic individual during those times can help family members breathe and return refreshed.

Casmir Care Services is a leading agency that provides quality, effective, person-center services in the individual’s home. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities through care, comfort, and compassion. Our Direct Care Professionals treat all individuals and their families with respect and are trained specifically to work with those with developmental issues. If you are looking to find in-home support for your family member with autism, contact us to see how we can help.

Image by karelinlestrange from Pixabay