Saturday, July 7, 2007

Dear Friends,

Sarah, Everett and I were much impressed as we visited the Centre for Neuro Skills in Bakersfield yesterday. It is a very intense program. The Centre owns several apartment complexes which are about 10 miles from the Centre itself. The apartments are where Kevin will be living with possibly one or two other patients. The program simulates regular life preparing him to return home and hopefully back to work. Each morning Kevin will have to arise at a regular time, bathe and prepare his own breakfast. During the week he will have to help clean the apartmentand do his own laundry. At the present time, of course, he will need assistance with each of these tasks until he can do them on his own.

Kevin will have a therapist or aid with him 24/7. A van will pick him up each morning to take him to the Centre where he will then spend several hours in therapy of every sort. Unlike Kindred, they will make him participate whether he wants to or not. However, they will use tactics that will make it seem like it is Kevin's idea. They have therapies that will address physical, cognitive, sight, speech, behavioral, and a host of other issues.

At the end of the day the van will drive him home where he will have to prepare his dinner and finish the day's assigned homework. An aid will also take him to church each Sunday. On weekends, when we are most likely to visit, we can take him out to dinner, a movie, or whatever. We can have an aid accompany us to help if we need it.

To relearn budgeting, each week Kevin will be given an allowance to spend as he sees fit. We noticed a Home Depot across the street from the Centre and figure a lot of his money will go there. He can choose from fast food restaurants, movies, etc. Kevin will have to plan his own meals and each week he will also be given a set amount of money to purchase his groceries and once a week he will be taken to the grocery store. Kevin will have his own mailing address and each day will have to check it. He will receive fake bills for utilities, etc., which he will have to pay.

We expect Kevin to be ready to be transferred within the next two weeks. He has to be free of any infection or other medical problem as well as be able to handle a minimum of three hours of therapy per day. We ask that you pray he can reach these goals quickly.

Love,
Tami