COMMUNICARE MICHIGAN, LLC
PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA

Communicare Michigan provides a comprehensive set of rehabilitative services which are integrated into each Member’s life using a functional approach. In each of the Clubhouse settings, Communicare Michigan creates an environment similar to “real life” work, recreational, and community living. According to the Commission for Case Management Certification (CCMC), Case Management is defined as a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the options and services required to meet the client’s health and human service needs. It is characterized by advocacy, communication, and resource management and promotes quality and cost-effective interventions and outcomes. At Communicare Michigan, our case managers strive to act in accordance with the philosophy that everyone benefits when our Members reach their optimum level of wellness, self-management, and functional capabilities. Case Managers help to coordinate care for Members in the following areas: Refer Members or family to community resources to assist in recovery from mental or physical illness and to provide access to services such as financial assistance, legal aid, housing, job placement or education According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Occupational Therapy is defined as the therapeutic use of occupations, including everyday life activities with individuals, groups, populations, or organizations to support participation, performance, and function in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. Occupational therapy services are provided for habilitation, rehabilitation, and the promotion of health and wellness to those who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction. Occupational therapy addresses the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory-perceptual, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts and environments to support engagement in occupations that affect physical and mental health, well-being, and quality of life. At Communicare Michigan, LLC Speech Language Pathology provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment of communication, cognitive, and swallowing disorders. At Communicare Michigan, we understand that treatment of cognitive impairment is central for treatment and recovery for individuals with traumatic brain injury because of the impact cognitive deficits have on safety, responsibilities of independent living, and social interaction. Some important ways that our multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and support staff work to improve cognitive functioning in our Members include: Communicare Michigan believes that to accomplish the goal of successful independent community living, then supportive, rehabilitative services must be offered to our Members in the very places they will need to demonstrate those skills. A strengths based philosophy is emphasized so our Members can achieve full community reintegration they desire. The Clubhouse model has been adapted into TBI rehabilitation to accomplish this goal, and each Clubhouse has been strategically located near the heart of cities like Bloomfield HIlls, Rochester, Utica and Tampa, Florida so Members can have full access to community resources. Members who participate in our Home and Community-based Rehabilitation programs can choose an apartment or home within close proximity to a Clubhouse site, thus providing them with nearby support and assistance. For Members who are unable to obtain a leased home in the community from third party landlords, Communicare Michigan has its own apartment complex located near downtown Utica. Communicare Michigan also provides in-home attendant care and supervision on an individual basis to allow our participants the dignity of living in a comfortable home setting rather than a group home or institution. Highly trained Life Skills Specialist assist our Members in their homes with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) completion, medication oversight, meal planning and preparation, and basic home maintenance. Recreational and Occupational Therapy services are integrated into home and community life to assist our Members with banking, grocery shopping, and recreation and leisure skills. The Clubhouse also offers activities during the evenings and weekends to encourage additional community involvement. Works Skills are offered at each Clubhouse during normal business hours (8am-5pm) to simulate “real-life” employment. Through numerous job opportunities, Members are able to work for minimum wage as an employee of Communicare Michigan. Whether Members decide to work in the culinary arts program, create art for the gallery space, or take photos for the Newsletter, they will complete an application, be interviewed for their desired position, and then be given the opportunity to become meaningful participants in the day to day operations of the Clubhouse. About Communicare Michigan Communicare Michigan, LLC is a comprehensive rehabilitation program serving individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other cognitive impairments through outpatient, in-home, and community based rehabilitation services. Communicare Michigan was developed to better serve the many TBI clients who were returning home after completing inpatient programming but did not have access to supportive services. Prior to Communicare Michigan, some of these individuals have had to return to group homes because without a transitional program, clients experienced difficulty maintaining the level of functioning they achieved while in a more controlled environment. Communicare Michigan realized the need to provide transitional outpatient services for those individuals who were ready for the next step toward independence. Since its establishment in 1999, Communicare Michigan has worked to provide these transitional services for brain injury survivors who are ready for that next step toward full community reintegration. By utilizing a multi-disciplinary clinical team approach, Members can work toward their full potential while being provided opportunities to improve life skills, gain work skills, and navigate community re-entry services. The success of this type of programming has allowed us to expand into four community clubhouse sites throughout southeastern Michigan.