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PERSONAL CARE AND SAFETY

Below are some questions you need to think about, whether you

live with a disability yourself, or if someone you know does.

Finding the right answers to these questions can help a person

react the proper way in an emergency, help with personal

hygiene and everyday living, and helps them become more

independent.

HOME SAFETY AND EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Where should you go if there is a severe storm or tornado and your house or apartment doesn't have a basement?

HOME SAFETY CHECKLIST

GENERAL:

____ Emergency numbers are posted by the telephone.

____ Appliances, lamps, and cords are clean and in good condition.

____ There is a sufficient number of electrical outlets in each room.

____ There are not too many appliances plugged into the same circuit.

____ The thermostat on the water heater is set at 110? or lower.

____ Medications are stored in a safe place.

____ Carpeting or rugs are not worn or torn.

KITCHEN:

____ Stove and sink area are well-lighted.

____ If using a gas stove, it should be equipped with pilot lights and an

......... automatic cut-off in the event of flame failure.

____ The stove is not located under curtains.

____ There is a proper kitchen exhaust system.

____ Hazardous household agents are stored safely.

____ There is enough counter space.

DO YOU:

____ Turn pan handles away from other burners and the edge of the stove?

____ Avoid wearing long, loose garments when cooking?

____ Keep pot holders near the stove?

____ Turn on the exhaust fan when cooking?

____ Operate the microwave only when there is food in it?

____ Disconnect small appliances when not using them?

____ Keep knives in knife rack or drawer?

____ Keep countertops clean and clear?

____ Keep drawers and cupboards closed?

____ Wipe up grease spills at once?

STAIRWAYS AND HALLS:

____ Steps are in good condition and free of objects.

____ Smoke detectors are in place.

____ Hallways contain night lights.

____ Handrails are sturdy and secure.

____ Doors do not swing out over steps.

____ Clearance in the stairway provides adequate head room.

LIVING ROOM:

____ Electric cords are placed along walls, not under rugs and away from traffic areas.

____ Couches and chairs are sturdy and secure.

BATHROOM:

____ The bathtub or shower has nonskid mat or strips.

____ Grab-bars are installed on the walls by the bathtub and toilet.

____ Towel bars and soap dish are sturdy and secure.

____ Faucet and valve handles are in good condition.

DO YOU:

____ Dispose of old medication?

____ Keep radio, portable heater, and other electrical appliances away from tub or shower?

BEDROOM:

DO YOU-

____ Keep a lamp or flashlight within reach of your bed?

____ Use a night light to brighten the way to the bathroom at night?

OUTDOORS:

____ Steps and walkways are in good condition.

____ Handrails are sturdy and secure.

____ Doorways are well-lighted.

____ Garage is adequately ventilated.

____ Tools and lawn and garden equipment are stored safely.

____ Toxic materials are labeled and stored correctly.

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Worksheet for Determining abilities to perform Common Tasks-

NUTRITION/ MEAL PLANNING/ PREPARATION

_____ Plans own meals

_____ Does own grocery shopping/ puts groceries away at home

_____ Prepares own meals

_____ Sets the table

_____ Gets food to table/ eats independently

_____ Cleans up kitchen/ refrigerate leftovers/ washes dishes & puts them

............away/ washes table / stove/ counter tops

COMMENTS:

________________________________________________________________

LAUNDRY

_____ Collect/ sorts dirty clothes

_____ Puts clothing/ detergent in machine/ starts washer

_____ Puts clean clothing into dryer/ starts dryer

_____ Folds/ hangs up/ puts away clean clothing

COMMENTS:

HOUSEKEEPING

_____ Change bedding/ make bed

_____ Vacuuming/ sweeping/ mopping floors

_____ Dusting

_____ Cleaning windows/ patio doors

_____ Cleaning bathroom; toilet/ bathtub/ shower/ lavatory

_____ Cleaning kitchen ; stove & refrigerator

COMMENTS:

________________________________________________________________

BUDGETING/ FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

_____ Understands difference between income and expense

_____ Knows current sources of income, knows amount of income

_____ Sets priorities for spending; rent/ house payment/ utilities/ food/

............clothing etc.

_____ Has a checking account

_____ Deposits own check

_____ Writes check for necessary expenses or purchases

_____ Balances own checkbook

_____ Uses ATM independently

_____ Pays necessary expenses first

COMMENTS:

________________________________________________________________

PERSONAL CARE

_____ Can get undressed independently

_____ Can get into tub/ shower, bathe & shampoo hair independently

_____ Can get clothing and get dressed independently

_____ Can comb hair/ shave/ apply make-up independently

COMMENTS:

________________________________________________________________

HEALTH CARE

_____ Knows the relationship between proper care and good health

_____ Knows how & who to contact for health/ first aid emergency

_____ Knows how to treat minor healthcare situations

COMMENTS

________________________________________________________________

HOUSING

_____ Understands differences in Subsidized vs. Fair Market housing

_____ Knows how to get and complete subsidized housing application

_____ In a rental situation, identifies/ understands responsibilities of/

............differences in/ rights of;

_____ Tenant/ Landlord

_____ Rent

_____ Lease

_____ Eviction

_____ Deposit/ Utilities; included or extra

_____ Is able to look through and understand rental listings in newspaper and

............other publications

Options to consider when looking for an apartment;

_____ Location;

_____ Proximity to bus route

_____ Proximity to shopping

_____ Pros/Cons of having a room mate

_____ One/two bedroom

_____ Monthly rent that fits budget

_____ Lease requirements

- Other housing options besides renting an apartment;

_____ Boarding housing

_____ Share-a-home

_____ Other

COMMENTS:

_______________________________________________________________

TRANSPORTATION

_____ Identifies the options for public transportation; bus/ dial-a-ride /taxi

_____ Is able to read the bus book & identify which bus to take

_____ Is able to use accessible bus and related equipment

_____ Is able to get dial-a-ride/ ADA para transit card

COMMENTS:

________________________________________________________________

HOME SAFETY/ EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

_____ Is able to respond to fire in home

_____ Call 911

_____ Use appropriate fire extinguisher

_____ Evacuate premises

COMMENTS:

________________________________________________________________

PERSONAL ASSISTANT SERVICES

_____ Has back-up in case of no-show

_____ Organize and direct duties to make the most of time allowed

_____ Knows person/ phone number to call if problems exist

COMMENTS:

________________________________________________________________

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

_____ Is able to use telephone

_____ Knows number for bus information

_____ Knows number for library/ recreation

_____ Knows number for Emergencies; 911

_____ Knows name and number of apartment manager

_____ Knows number for Utility Company/ Plumber

_____ Knows number for DMV

_____ Knows number for voter information

_____ Knows number for food stamp/ financial benefit/ case manager office

• Identifies/ uses tools available for locating community resources;

_____ Telephone book

_____ Community I&R

_____ Newspaper

COMMENTS:

_______________________________________________________________

EMPLOYMENT

_____ Has/ knows who to contract for training/ education

_____ Answers questions regarding/ prioritizes job development

_____ Knows how/ where to look for jobs

_____ Identifies areas of interest

_____ Can develop a job search

_____ Can develop a resume

COMMENTS:

_______________________________________________________________

ON EMPLOYMENT

_____ Identifies appropriate appearance

_____ Identifies pertinent information to take

_____ Identifies appropriate questions to ask

_____ Identifies appropriate interview behaviors

_____ Identifies appropriate work behaviors

_____ Identifies appropriate employer/ employee interaction

_____ Identifies appropriate interaction with co-workers

_____ Identifies appropriate interaction with customers

COMMENTS:

______________________________________________________________

LEISURE TIME/ USE SKILLS

_____ Satisfied with present use of free time

_____ Would rather spend free time alone

_____ Would rather spend free time with others

_____ Would rather watch activities

_____ Would rather participate in activities

_____ Would rather participate indoors

_____ Would rather participate outdoors

_____ Would rather participate in noisy events

_____ Would rather participate in quiet events

_____ Already has enough friends/ acquaintances

_____ Has trouble making friends

_____ Has trouble keeping friends COMMENTS:

PERSONAL/ SOCIAL SKILLS

_____ Communicates personal information; name/ address/ phone number

_____ Communicates needs

_____ Initiates interactions

_____ Responds to verbal contact

_____ Complies with; directions from staff/ group decisions/ scheduled activities

_____ Takes responsibility for self

_____ Exhibits socially acceptable behavior

• Appropriate personal hygiene in;

_____ General appearance

_____ Hair care

_____ Dental care

_____ Getting to location on time

_____ Medication regimes

_____ Locating items

_____ When eating with others

_____ When angry

_____ When meeting someone

_____ When in public places

_____ When receiving criticism/ correction

_____ When receiving a compliment

_____ When making a request

_____ When expressing thanks

_____ When its time to go home

COMMENTS:

________________________________________________________________

SEXUALITY

_____ Defines masturbation/ intercourse

• Answers questions regarding pregnancy correctly

_____ How pregnancy occurs

_____ When pregnancy occurs

_____ Signs of pregnancy

_____ Length of pregnancy

_____ Pregnancy prevention

_____ Methods of birth control/ most reliable method

_____ Defines STD’s

_____ Describes symptoms of STD’s

_____ Explains preventative measures

_____ Offers plan of action to prevent STD’s

_____ Defines AIDS/HIV

_____ Explains how AIDS/HIV is transmitted

_____ How to know if partner has AIDS/HIV

_____ Knows how AIDS/HIV is diagnosed

_____ Defines "safe sex"

_____ Understands the importance of "safe sex"

_____ Knows how people can have "safe sex"

COMMENTS:

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CLOTHING - Choosing & caring for.

Spending your clothing dollars:

If you have a limited amount of money to spend on clothing, here are

some tips on how to "buy smart";

will go further. Stick to basic colors of shoes, too, so they’ll go with most

of your clothes.

CHOOSING LAUNDRY PRODUCTS

Directions: Match the laundry product with a job listed in the chart. The products

may be used more than once.

LAUNDRY WORKSHEET

READING CLOTHING LABELS

Directions: Read each label and the sentences that follow it. Write Yes on the line

if the person took care of the clothing correctly. Write No if the person did not.

A wool blazer

Dry Clean Only

_____ Mary took her blazer to the dry-cleaners to be dry-cleaned and pressed.

_____ Owen put his blazer in a coin-operated dry-cleaning machine.

_____ Ginny washed and dried her blazer at the Laundromat.

A shirt

Machine wash Warm, Tumble Dry, Remove Promptly

_____ Martha washed her shirt. Then it sat in the dryer for thirty minutes after it had stopped.

_____ Harry had his shirt dry- cleaned.

_____ John washed his shirt in warm water. Then he put it in the dryer.

A raincoat

Machine wash in warm water. Do not dry clean. Drip or tumble dry low.

_____ Larry washed his raincoat in the washer. He used warm water and regular detergent.

_____ Mike’s coat had a dirt spot, so he put it in a coin-operated dry-cleaning machine.

Remove spots by sponging spot with denatured alcohol. Immediately rinse in clean

_____ Jill dried her coat in the dryer at high heat.

_____ George rubbed denatured alcohol into a stain on water his coat. Then he rinsed the

coat and hung it up to drip dry.

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Clothing Care

Fred and Bob bought identical pants on the same day. Three months later, Bob’s

pants looked old and faded. Fred’s looked just like new.

The difference was that Fred knew how to take care of his clothes, Bob didn’t.

1. Hang up or fold clothes after wearing. Avoid overcrowding clothes in a closet.

They’ll get wrinkled and out of shape.

2. Remove any spots or stains right away. If a stain ‘sets’, it will be hard or

impossible to get out.

3. Never iron clothes with stains. The heat may ‘set’ the stain.

4. Wash clothes in the correct wash cycle and water temperature. Use the correct

type of soap or detergent.

5. Rips, holes or loose buttons should be mended right away.

6. Brush dry-cleanable clothes after wearing to get rid of lint and dust. Have them

cleaned before they look too dirty, or they may not come clean.

7. Store woolens in mothballs during the summer.

8. Protect your clothes as you wear them. Napkins, aprons, raincoats, and

overalls serve as protectors for your clothes.

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Directions: Complete each sentence using the information above.

1. In summer store woolens in _____________________

2. A stain will be hard to get out if it _________________

3. Brush dry-cleanable clothes to get rid of ______________

4. Napkins or coveralls are both clothes _______________________

5. Hang up or fold clothes after ________________________

6. Wash clothes using the correct soap and wash ______________

7. Wash clothes in the correct water ______________________

8. You could set a stain with the heat of an ______________________

9. In a closet, clothes can wrinkle from _____________________________

10. Rips, tears or loose buttons should be __________________________

HEALTH WORKSHEET

1. What would you do if you cut yourself?
   
2. What would you do if the cut was deep?
   
3. What would you do or take if you had a stomachache?
   
4. What would you do or take if you had a cold?
   
5. What is your normal body temperature?
   
6. How do you know if you have a fever?
   
7. What would you take or do if you have a fever?
   
8. What would you do if you have a nosebleed?
   
9. What would you do or take if you have a headache?
   
10. What is athlete’s foot?
    
11. What would you do for athlete’s foot?
    
12. What would you do if you burn yourself?
    
13. What should you do if you step on a nail?
    
14. What should you do if you’re bitten by an animal?
    
15. What would you do or take if you have diarrhea?
    
16. What would you do or take if you are constipated?
    
17. What should you do if you get something in your eye?
18. What should you do if you have a tick on you?
19. What should you do if you swallow something that is poison?
20. What should you do if you take too many pills?
21. What would you do if you have a toothache?
22. When you have medication to take, does someone remind you to take it on time?
23. If not, how do you remember to take it?
24. Do you take any medications regularly?
25. If you do take medications regularly, what is the name of it?
26. Is it all right to drink alcohol when you are taking medication?
27. If not, why?
28. What is a prescription?
29. Where and how do you get prescriptions filled?
30. who gets your prescriptions filled for you?
31. How often do you go to the doctor?
32. What is your doctor’s name?
33. Who makes your doctor appointments for you?
34. How often do you go to the dentist?
35. What is your dentist’s name?
36. Who makes your dental appointments for you?
37. When you get sick or hurt at home, who decides what you should do?
38. If you have a job and wake up feeling sick, what should you do?
39. List the types of things you might find in a medicine cabinet.
40. Why is a balanced diet important for your health?

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Quick Links:

'RespectAbility'- OUR OWN AGENCY NEWSLETTER..... (Download the Adobe .pdf reader)

(Text Only version of newsletter here)

Calendar of Events

Independent Living Specialists

Cross Disability Peer Group

North Coast Spinal Cord Injury Support Group

Independent Living Skills Workshops

'Computers for People with Disabilities' Program

Success Stories

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