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THIS ARTICLE RECENTLY APPEARED IN THE PLYMOUTH REVIEW

The Review; Paragon Day Services, Plymouth
Submitted by; Verla Peichl

Amy and Tom Sander, Plymouth, enjoy being with each other and they enjoy the gym area at Paragon Day Services.

Paragon Day Services has arrived in Plymouth, located on the Frontage Road at the corner of Highway 57 and County Trunk C

This is a non-profit organization where adults with brain injuries, who are developmentally disabled, physically disabled and have other significant medical needs and mental illness come to experience the world around them in a casual, supportive setting.

“This company is Wisconsin based, in Oconomowoc, and we now have eight of these programs in the state,” said Ann Fraiser, Area Director of northern Wisconsin.  “In Indiana we have other agencies that are corporate owned and work with troubled kids.”

"We get referrals from the county, the Social Services Unit,” said Fraiser, “and we do no fundraising, that’s our philosophy.”

That’s only one of the programs philosophies. They also feel that all individuals, whatever their level of ability, have the right to participate in community life.
They believe that individuals have the right and ability to make informed choices in their lives.  This enhances their feeling of value and self-worth.

They believe in each individual’s right to privacy and right to be treated with dignity. They respect and value personal differences, preferences and aspirations.
They also believe that through the use of community resources, technologies and caring guidance, individuals are able to have experiences that increase their personal growth, happiness and quality of life.

“These people used to live at Rocky Knoll, but with the downsizing they now live in group homes,” said Fraiser, “so we were asked to come to this area.”

The facility is open Monday through Fridays from 9-3PM.  The clients are taken on outings; learn skills, such as laundry, shopping, social skills, cooking lunches by using a microwave.

“If there is a need for medications they are administered and distributed by the staff,” said Fraiser.  “The staff is trained by nurses and are taught to administer insulin, test blood sugars, take blood pressures and learn how to care for oxygen that may be used by a client.”

“Sometimes there may be a combination of where the clients come from,” said Fraiser, “sometimes they are home with parents or a group home.”

“We do not take anyone with Alzheimer’s,” said Fraiser.  “Everyone that comes here to participate needs to be assessed to see if they will be a fit here.  We do assessments in their homes and learn what we can about them.”

Currently there are sixteen people at the Paragon.  Full would be twenty at the same time. “Some come full time, some half days, or only part of the week,” said Fraiser.  “Some work in the community and they can be transported by handi-care, the group home, the parents, or we will provide transportation from here.”

“We set the person up for success before they come here,” said Fraiser.  “We set up the program and each Paragon is set up to meet the people’s needs that are here and help them to become successful.”

“Some need more medical/physical care,” said Fraiser, “but not here.  We have more social, active people.”

Some of the people currently at Paragon have participated in Special Olympics so they are familiar with baseball, bowling, bocce, and a number of other activities.
“Each program has a program coordinator,” said Fraiser, “and our’s is Nick Verhagen who is from Sheboygan.  He does the assessments on the individuals.”
“Then Halei, who is our team leader, does the scheduling for the outings,” said Fraiser.

The staff ratio is one staff person for every three clients, so as individuals are added so will the staff.  Sometimes a situation may arise that the ratio will be 1:1 for select reasons

Paragon is still working on adding rooms, but for now there is a sensory program room, a gym area and a changing and resting room. “We have a resting room to accommodate those who may experience seizures, or need a place to rest,” said Fraiser.  “In that room we also have a full set of clothes for each individual in the event that they need to change clothes before going out on an outing.  We want them to always look their best when in the community.”

Other additions that are in the future will be a laundry room, a kitchen and a self awareness room where hair needs, nails, a foot spa and massage area will be located.

“We don’t want to put a drain on the community,” said Fraiser, “we want to help the community.”

To learn more about Paragon go to www.paragon-wi.com