CareLink Documentation Training

Documentation Training

Learning Objectives

• To understand the purpose of the LOC/FAT

• To develop effective integration – implementation of LOC/FAT to the IPOS

• To document service delivery to the individual consumer

• To appropriately document services delivered to the consumers – timeliness, thoroughness, consumer progress or lack thereof, and consumer satisfaction

• To identify direct care staff role as it relates to implementation of IPOS goals and objectives

• To understand how direct care staff can promote self-sufficiency in consumers

Money Management

• Money management impacts our lives in the short and long term

• Achieving stable finances is central to achieving stability in other areas of life

• Teaching money management skills – saving, credit cards, loans, budgeting, and spending practices – helps consumers learn important information before they get out on their own

What is a Teachable Moment?

In the course of daily life, opportunities appear to guide a consumer’s life skill development. Often these occur when consumer wants, needs, or shows interest in something. Staff then should invite consumer to engage in learning. Staff could also “create” these moments. The key for staff is to develop awareness of teachable moments and use them

Money Management

Beliefs About Money

• Ask consumer to describe what they think is important to people – i.e. family, friends, etc. -based on what they spend their money on (clothes, pets, cars, etc.)

• Ask consumer what his/her priorities are for money (buying clothes, saving for a car, paying rent)

• As consumers play Monopoly, Life or other games involving money, they will make choices that reflect their values and beliefs about money which should spark a good discussion

Money Management

Savings

• Assist consumer in opening a savings account

• Have consumer maintain a savings account record book and have him/her keep track of the interest his/her money earns

Money Management

Savings

• When a consumer has money from allowances or other resources, encourage them to have a savings plan

• For example, they could divide any allowance into portions: 30% for long-term savings (they don’t access it until they leave the home); 30% for short term savings (for things they want, but don’t cost too much); 30% for pocket money (for spending immediately

Money Management

Savings

• Sometimes consumers may want to save for larger purchases so help them create a savings plan

• For example, if they want to purchase a bus ticket to visit family or friends, help them find out what the ticket will cost; help them plan how much money they will need to save each week or month; and figure out how long it will take to reach the savings goal

Money Management

Taxes

• Each time a consumer buys something, have him/her examine the receipt to see how much money was added to the cost because of the sales tax

• If consumer wants to make a larger purchase, have him/her figure out the total cost, including sales tax

Money Management

Taxes

• To teach consumer about payroll taxes, have him/her look at his/her pay stub and see how much was taken out from wages

• This is an opportunity to describe gross wages, net wages, FICA, etc.

Money Management

Taxes

• Teach a consumer that once he/she starts working, he/she will need to file income tax forms

• To help a consumer see the benefit of paying taxes, talk about where tax monies go (roads, schools, police, and fire dept.)

• Prepare consumer to file income taxes by looking at the 1040EZ form. Have consumer identify what information will be needed to fill out the tax form correctly.

• Help consumer complete the tax form or ask one of his/her friends, relatives or guardian to assist him/her

Money Management

Banking, Credit Cards, and Loans

• Talk to your consumer about financial institutions and what services they offer

• As various ads for different financial institutions are seen in the paper, internet or TV, talk about how they are alike or different

Money Management


• Start helping consumer understand how a checking account and ATM works

• If consumer is saving money, have him/her write a request to use the funds

• Have him/her calculate how much money he/she has and how much money will be left if the amount requested is taken out

Money Management


• Money orders are sometimes needed to make purchases or as a way to pay a bill

• Have consumer identify three places that sell money orders; determine the fee; and select the place he/she will buy the money order from.

Money Management


• When a consumer has a regular source of income, help him/her open a checking account

• Look at checking account options available at different banks and credit unions and assess them as to monthly fees – ATM privileges, interest earned, etc.

• Show him/her how to write checks, read bank statements, balance checkbook and use online banking

• Consider having consumer buy certain items like clothing or toiletries to get some practice writing checks

Money Management


• Go over coins and dollar denominations with consumer.

• Show him//her how different combinations of coins add up – it takes 20 nickels, 10 dimes, and 4 quarters to make a dollar

• Have consumer pay for something with cash at a store or fast-food restaurant

• Help him/her make sure the correct change was received

Money Management


• Have consumer use his/her own money to pay for something – it’s a great way for him/her to learn about buying things, making change, and making decisions about purchases

Money Management

Budgeting and Spending

• Have consumer create a mock budget for certain bills (utilities or insurance)

• Talk about the different methods of paying bills, such as automatic deductions, writing checks, or paying online

• Discuss pros and cons of each method and what happens when bills aren’t paid on time

Money Management

Budgeting and Spending Practice Living on a Budget• Use a system of envelopes to teach consumer how to live within a

budget

• Figure out how much money is spent for consumers clothing, toiletries, haircuts, lunch money, spending money, and other items each month

• Set up envelopes for each category and give consumer the money for each category at the beginning of the month – you could also start by doing it weekly

• Explain that they are responsible for making these various purchases each month using the cash in the envelope; when the money is gone “it’s gone”

Money Management

Budgeting and Spending Practice Living on a Budget • Be prepared for consumer to overspend the first couple

of months – this system teaches consumer that if he/she buys the most expensive item he/she may not have money for anything else

• If consumer makes it to the end of the month with money left in the envelopes because he/she made thrifty choices, consider letting him/her spend the money or put it into savings

Money Management


• Sometimes the best way to teach consumer about budgeting for expenditures is to let him/her try it on his/her own

• If consumer has a job, let him/her spend his/her entire first pay check and then discuss how long the money lasted, what he/she bought, and how he/she might handle the next pay check

Money Management


• Teach consumer that “doing it yourself” often saves money. For example, if the consumer makes his/her lunch at home (versus buying a lunch at work), he/she can “earn” what the lunch would have cost at work, workshop, etc.

Money Management


• Like many adults, consumers may reach the end of the month wondering where all their money went

• Have consumer hold on to his/her receipts and enter the amounts of each purchase into a notebook or computer program. At the end of the month, he/she can see exactly where money was spent

Money Management


• Show consumer how to make his/her savings go farther by comparison shopping

• Take consumer shopping at different stores

• Talk about what could be bought for $100 at a variety of stores

• Use this as an opportunity to talk about quality versus quantity

Money Management


• Everyday people are bombarded with telephone solicitations for credit cards, “free” offers, and other “giveaways”

• When a solicitor calls, have a consumer ask him/her to send written materials describing the offer

• This will teach consumer to carefully evaluate these offers and not make a decision right away

Money Management


• We are all subject to advertising. Buying “name brands” and more expensive items has trade offs

• To teach a consumer about these trade offs, tell him/her the allotted budget for a particular item (sweater, sneakers, hair care product)

• If he/she wants something more expensive, he/she must use his/her money to make up the difference

Money Management

Resources

• Create a short list of items that you would like for consumer to find such as a restaurant, a car repair shop, or a city park

• Using the Yellow Pages have consumer create a list of places he/she could obtain the item

• Have consumer call these places and ask for the location, hours and price information. Have consumer use the internet to get this info

CareLink Documentation Training

Healthcare