By Ajit Sivaram | Co- Founder
MONTHLY REPORT (JULY-AUG)
FOR GOVERNMENT HOME FOR THE MENTALLY CHALLENGED BOYS
CONTENTS
1. Boys at the State Home
a. Number of Boys:
There were 83 boys at the Home in the month of July. Two boys left the home and were transferred to the Bellary Home. Three boys were admitted in the month of August. The current count of the boys is 84.
b. Current state:
The health of the boys has been regularly checked over the past few months. A doctor visits once every month to follow up on all the boys who are being given medication. The Home has also hired another doctor to visit the Home for regular consultation.
This month an effort was made to ensure the boys’ hands were washed before and after meals. This has been achieved with the help of the nurses, interns and the Home staff every day. The boys dip their hands into soapy water before and after lunch. Unfortunately, this activity has not been possible for all the severe/profound boys.
The Home hired one more counsellor/teacher for the boys in the month of July. This helped in dividing the number of boys between the two teachers and enabled smaller classes according to learning ability.
Wound care and physiotherapy is being done regularly and consistently. We are looking for a physiotherapist to help train the nurses in a more intensive course of physiotherapy for the boys.
c. Goals for July-Aug:
Goals mainly consist of achieving positive development in health, hygiene and psychological areas. The goals for the months of July and August were:
2. Activities at the Home
Interns have been visiting the Home on a regular basis to interact with the boys and help the nurses in various activities.
One intern undertook the task of ensuring hand washing for the boys before and after meals. A bucket of soapy water was placed before the beginning of the meal and each boy was made to dip his hands in the water. This activity has continued over the month and ensured cleaner eating habits.
Yoga is another activity that started in the month of August. Every afternoon, the older boys go through a series of different postures and exercises. This activity has gradually been reduced to two days a week.
Prakasha’s leg is healing steadily. Ms. Cintia has had regular meetings with Mobility India for Prakasha to try on the artificial leg and get used to it.
3. Events at the Home
a. Big Birthday Bash:
Every year in July, we celebrate the boys’ birthday on one day with rides, magicians and other attractions. This year the birthday bash was a full day event with different kind of rides, a magician, a horse, cotton candy and many other goodies. Several volunteers gathered to celebrate the day with the boys.
b. Doctor visits:
A doctor has been visiting the Home twice every month for a general check-up and follow up on the health of the boys. Wound care, illnesses and hygiene issues have been addressed and action has been taken to improve the health and hygiene of the boys. A few boys are in need of serious surgery and we are working with the Home to make this possible for the boys.
Dentists from RV Dental College also visited the Home for a dental camp and checked over 30 boys for cavities and decay. They cleaned and scaled the teeth and made a list of boys who need additional treatment. This group of boys will be sent to the college every Friday for treatment.
c. Visits by individuals/companies
A few individuals and companies have visited and shown interest in the Home in the past two months. Visits were arranged for the following individuals and organisations:
4. Nurses:
a. Daily Schedule:
Activities
Time
Brushing
8:00 – 8:45am
Physiotherapy/Wound care
8:45 – 9:30am
Feeding/Cleaning
9:30 – 10:15am
Bathing
10:30 – 11:30am
Activities/Therapy
11:30 – 12:30pm
Lunch for boys
12:30 – 1:30pm
Wound care/
Physiotherapy
2:00 – 3:30pm
Reporting
3:30 – 4:30pm
The daily schedule of the nurses is as follows:
The nurses follow this schedule every day and are responsible to ensure the activities take place efficiently. Brushing, bathing, feeding/cleaning and therapy activities happen for all the boys. Wound care is given for boys who are prone to injury and have self injury impulses. Currently, physiotherapy is given to seven boys who are learning to walk independently. At the end of each day the nurses report their activities of the day in the schedule given. Each nurse is in charge of 20 boys approx.
b. Targets achieved
Each nurse is given specific targets to reach over the month which are measured during spot checks.
NURSE
AREA
TARGET
PROGRESS
Bency
Bathing
To teach five mild boys proper bathing techniques (Soap, water, drying)
Done
Nirmala
Grooming
Thrice a week nails must be cut, will be checked
Done
Uma/Jaya
Activities
Six unique activities for the severe/profound boys and goals that will be achieved
Not done – nurses could not find six activities that the boys could be involved in for an hour.
Jaya
Feeding/cleaning
To ensure hands are washed before and after every meal
Done
Bency/Uma
Physiotherapy
The boys undergoing physiotherapy must be able to walk independently
Done
Uma
Room Cleaning
If room is kept unclean during three spot checks then no incentive
Maintained
Nirmala
Clothes washing/sorting
Supervise clothes sorting and make sure clothes remain sorted at least thrice a week
Done
Bency
Toilet Training
All 7 boys reach level one of toilet training - taking the child to the bathroom on a set hourly schedule.
Not done – due to resistance from Home staff this goal has been dropped.
Bency
Brushing
Training 7 boys in three different groups to brush independently
Done
c. Targets for month of September – October
New targets for the month were set for the nurses in the month of September.
The targets are as follows:
NURSE
AREA
TARGET
Bency
Bathing
Training 15 boys in bathing technique.
Nirmala
Grooming
Lice eradication - all boys lice removal by the end of the month (Plan lice day if required)
Uma/Jaya
Activities
5 unique activities for the severe/profound boys and goals that will be achieved
Jaya
Feeding/cleaning
Establish hand washing before and after meals for all boys
Bency/Uma
Physiotherapy
Training for 5 boys to walk independently and 2 boys intensive therapy
Uma
Room Cleaning
If room is kept unclean during three spot checks then no incentive
Nirmala
Clothes washing/sorting
Train 4 boys to sort and put clothes for wash on a daily basis
Jaya/Uma
Occupational Therapy
Teach mild boys to make envelopes, baskets, candles
Bency
Brushing
Train 10 boys in proper brushing method
5. Sunday Themes
Every Sunday volunteers visit the Home and conduct activities for the boys on various themes. There was a Volunteer Orientation at the Home as well. All the volunteers were divided into groups with four boys in each group approx. Groups were divided into mild, moderate, severe and profound levels.
A group of volunteers engaged the boys in a form of dance and movement therapy for a few Sundays.
Themes covered in the past two months include:
6. Infrastructure
No major changes were made in terms of the infrastructure of the Home. A full-fledged cleaning of the bathrooms and toilets in the Home was done during one of the Sunday sessions.
7. Conclusion
Goals achieved for the past two months include:
The past two months have shown positive growth at the Home for the boys. Goals have been successfully achieved and new goals have been prepared. Occupational therapy is the big goal for the month and all the nurses will be participating in teaching the boys. This will be exhibited at the Home by the end of the month.
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