Ways to Support a Person with Autism
BrightStar Care
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Jul 19, 2023
Florida - Southwest
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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects a person's social interaction, communication, interests, and behaviors. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ASD affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States. Families and caregivers of people with ASD often need support and resources to help their loved ones thrive. Here are six ways to get you started!
In-Home Services
In-home autism support services help provide families with additional resources, insight, and guidance in navigating their autism journey. In-home care providers will adjust routines as needed, create effective communication plans, enhance learning opportunities, and teach self-advocacy skills and other life skills to help your autistic loved one thrive. With their assistance, families can continue to make meaningful progress. This helps ensure that individuals with autism can continue to access essential care and grow in their abilities despite difficult circumstances.
Respite Care
Respite care is temporary care that gives caregivers a much-needed break from the demands of caring for a loved one with ASD 24/7. It can be difficult to juggle work, family responsibilities, and taking care of a loved one with ASD. Respite caregivers can step in when you need a break so you can recharge and come back refreshed and ready to take on whatever comes your way.
Respite care services are an invaluable opportunity for families with members who have autism. Respite care helps to alleviate stress on the family unit by allowing them to take some time away to focus on other areas of their lives, knowing that their loved one's autism-related needs are still being met. With the right respite care provider, this specialized form of autism support strengthens not only the individual receiving care, but the entire family unit in the process.
Behavioral Therapy
The National Institute of Health recommends behavioral therapy as one way to offer autism support but it may not be offered by your particular agency so you may have to shop around. Behavioral therapy approaches vary depending on a person’s particular communication and learning needs, but generally include techniques such as proactive strategies for teaching social skills, reinforcing desired behaviors, and reducing problem behaviors. Different methods of behavioral therapy also utilize different approaches to best meet the individual needs of the person with autism. This can range from discrete trial training, naturalistic teaching techniques, pivotal response training and more.
Understanding autism behavior is critical to provide effective autism support, which is why it's important to choose a therapy model that works for the individual by taking into account their unique learning style and communication needs.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a popular therapy for individuals with autism, as it emphasizes positive reinforcement to teach appropriate behaviors and reduce challenging behavior. Primarily used for children, ABA programs provide one-on-one instruction in which therapists use games, songs, stories and other activities to engage the individual and reinforce desired behaviors. The development of an ABA program begins with a goal assessment to identify the behaviors or skills that need to be addressed. From there, discrete trial training (DTT) is applied which involves breaking down each skill into simple steps that are learned one at a time. Once the individual demonstrates consistent mastery of the skill through multiple trials, more complex tasks can be added on until eventually the entire set of goals are achieved. While autism support through ABA is primarily most helpful for young individuals, it can also create meaningful changes in adults as well when used correctly.
ABA therapists are highly trained in this evidence-based approach and can provide in-home or center-based services depending on what will work best for your loved one.
Community Integration
For some people with ASD, community integration services may be recommended to help them become more involved in their community through volunteering, joining social clubs or recreation leagues, or working part-time or full-time jobs. Our team can provide the support they need to succeed in any community setting they choose so they can live their best life possible.
Contact BrightStar Care Today for More Autism Support Tips!
If you have a loved one with ASD, know that you are not alone—BrightStar Care is here to support you every step of the way! Our team of expert caregivers are specially trained to work with people of all abilities, including those on the autism spectrum. We offer a wide range of services from respite care to behavioral therapy so you can find what works best for your loved one's needs.
- To view the original version of this article visit www.brightstarcare.com/about-brightstar-care/resources/ways-to-support-a-person-with-autism/
- Seniors Blue Book was not involved in the creation of this content.
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Local Services By This Author
BrightStar Care of Naples & Ft. Myers
Non-MedicalBrightStar Care is a leading in-home care agency that has been serving Lee and Collier counties since 2006. With a wealth of experience spanning 18 years, we have become a trusted name in providing compassionate and professional care to individuals within the comfort of their own homes. At BrightStar Care, we offer a wide range of services to meet the diverse needs of our clients, including both Medical and Non-Medical Care. Our non-medical care, also referred to as non-skilled care, includes assistance with IADLs such as transportation, meal preparation, medication reminders light housekeeping, laundry and ADLs such as assistance with personal care needs, transferring, and feeding. Our medical care, also referred to as skilled care, services encompass more complex medical needs with care being provided by an LPN or RN. Some of the Skilled services we offer include case management, medication management, medication administration and teaching, wound care and wound vac, disease education and monitoring, IV treatments and line maintenance, catheter and ostomy care, home safety evaluation and much more. In addition to non-skilled and skilled care, BrightStar Care takes pride in offering physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) services. Our team of licensed therapists collaborates closely with clients to develop personalized treatment plans, aiding in the restoration of independence, improvement of mobility, and enhancement of overall quality of life. Another aspect that sets BrightStar Care apart is our medical staffing services. We understand the significance of having qualified and reliable healthcare professionals in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Through our medical staffing solutions, we provide healthcare organizations with certified nursing assistants, skilled nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals on either a temporary or permanent basis. As an organization, we hold the prestigious Joint Commission Accreditation, which represents the gold standard in healthcare. This accreditation validates our commitment to delivering the highest standard of in-home care through quality and safety. Our dedication to providing top-notch care is further exemplified by our rigorous care team member selection and training processes. We carefully choose and train our care team members to ensure they possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and compassion to provide exceptional care to our clients. Furthermore, our thorough screening process, including background checks, drug testing, and reference verifications, instills peace of mind in our clients. Additionally, all our care team members undergo extensive hands-on training with our Director of Nursing, which includes comprehensive skills review, disease-specific training programs, as well as Dementia Live and our own Alzheimer's training called Bright Connections. What truly distinguishes us, however, is our genuine commitment to providing personalized care tailored to the unique needs of our clients. Our Rns create a comprehensive personalized plan of cares for each client. We believe in cultivating meaningful relationships with our clients and their families, creating a warm and supportive environment that promotes overall well-being which is why we created our own program called Purposeful Engagements.In recognition of our efforts to provide peace of mind to clients and their families, BrightStar Care has received numerous awards, including the Home Care Pulse awards for Provider of Choice, Employer of Choice, and Leader in Excellence. When it comes to in-home care, BrightStar Care is the agency of choice for those seeking exceptional care, compassion, and support. Our mission is to enhance the lives of our clients, enabling them to live comfortably and independently in their own homes through delivering a higher standard of in home care and providing peace of mind. Having proudly served Lee and Collier counties for over 18 years, we are excited to continue delivering exceptional in-home care services to our community.
BrightStar Care of Naples & Ft Myers
Home HealthBrightStar Care is a leading in-home care agency that has been serving Lee and Collier counties since 2006. With a wealth of experience spanning 18 years, we have become a trusted name in providing compassionate and professional care to individuals within the comfort of their own homes. At BrightStar Care, we offer a wide range of services to meet the diverse needs of our clients, including both Medical and Non-Medical Care. Our non-medical care, also referred to as non-skilled care, includes assistance with IADLs such as transportation, meal preparation, medication reminders light housekeeping, laundry and ADLs such as assistance with personal care needs, transferring, and feeding. Our medical care, also referred to as skilled care, services encompass more complex medical needs with care being provided by an LPN or RN. Some of the Skilled services we offer include case management, medication management, medication administration and teaching, wound care and wound vac, disease education and monitoring, Trach and ventilator management, IV treatments and line maintenance, catheter and ostomy care, home safety evaluation and much more. In addition to non-skilled and skilled care, BrightStar Care takes pride in offering physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) services. Our team of licensed therapists collaborates closely with clients to develop personalized treatment plans, aiding in the restoration of independence, improvement of mobility, and enhancement of overall quality of life. We also participate with "The Guide Program " under Medicare to provide Care navigation and Respite services for those suffering from Dementia. Another aspect that sets BrightStar Care apart is our medical staffing services. We understand the significance of having qualified and reliable healthcare professionals in various settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Through our medical staffing solutions, we provide healthcare organizations with certified nursing assistants, skilled nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals on either a temporary or permanent basis. As an organization, we hold the prestigious Joint Commission Accreditation, which represents the gold standard in healthcare. This accreditation validates our commitment to delivering the highest standard of in-home care through quality and safety. Our dedication to providing top-notch care is further exemplified by our rigorous care team member selection and training processes. We carefully choose and train our care team members to ensure they possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and compassion to provide exceptional care to our clients. Furthermore, our thorough screening process, including background checks, drug testing, and reference verifications, instills peace of mind in our clients. Additionally, all our care team members undergo extensive hands-on training with our Director of Nursing, which includes comprehensive skills review, disease-specific training programs, as well as Dementia Live and our own Alzheimer's training called Bright Connections. What truly distinguishes us, however, is our genuine commitment to providing personalized care tailored to the unique needs of our clients. Our Rns create a comprehensive personalized plan of cares for each client. We believe in cultivating meaningful relationships with our clients and their families, creating a warm and supportive environment that promotes overall well-being which is why we created our own program called Purposeful Engagements.In recognition of our efforts to provide peace of mind to clients and their families, BrightStar Care has received numerous awards, including the Home Care Pulse awards for Provider of Choice, Employer of Choice, and Leader in Excellence. When it comes to in-home care, BrightStar Care is the agency of choice for those seeking exceptional care, compassion, and support. Our mission is to enhance the lives of our clients, enabling them to live comfortably and independently in their own homes through delivering a higher standard of in home care and providing peace of mind. Having proudly served Lee and Collier counties for over 20 years, we are excited to continue delivering exceptional in-home care services to our community.