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Sam’s Plan

Read Sam’s Supported Decision-Making Plan here: Sam’s Plan

Meet Carlos 

 

Carlos is a 32-year-old male with Autism who lives in a 2-person supported living apartment with a male roommate who also has a disability. Carlos has a part-time job at a local pet store, and he has had this job for 3 years. Carlos told his mother that recently he had been running out of money before the end of the month. Carlos’ health issues include poorly controlled asthma, recent weight gain of 10 pounds, and anxiety in some social situations. Carlos’s family worries that an asthma attack could result in an ambulance trip to the Emergency Department, a very stressful environment for him. They are also concerned about his money management and the potential for exploitation. 

Why Supported Decision-Making (SDM)? Carlos stated, “I want to use SDM because it will help me make better decisions and feel good about myself and my abilities. SDM will help me keep my legal rights so I can be an independent adult.” 

Developing a Supported Decision-Making Plan Using the Missouri Stoplight Tool 

Carlos stated, “I want to make decisions so I can manage the important things in my life: health, money, community living. I want to have people I trust to help me make decisions. To help me with my decisions, they can:  

  • Help me understand my choices so can make good decisions  
  • Give me information in ways that I can understand. 
  • Use the Stoplight Tool so I can say what I can do or decide by myself, what I need help with, and what I need someone else to do or decide for me.  
  • Help me tell other people about my decisions.” 

 Click here to see Carlos’ completed Stoplight Tool. 

 

Meet Sharon 

Sharon is a 76-year-old female who has lived in a senior housing complex for the past 7 years. She has cerebral palsy. Sharon uses public transportation as she does not drive.  Sharon is active in her community church including choir and Sunday school. Sharon says her niece is the person she feels most comfortable talking to about finances, health and life in general. Sharon’s health concerns include cerebral palsy, arthritis, cataracts, and some hearing loss. She has fallen a few times in the past year and recently sustained significant bruising on her face and arm after a fall in the bathroom. Sharon has also noticed some changes in her short-term memory, forgetting to pay a bill and missing a doctor’s appointment.  

Why Supported Decision-Making (SDM)? Sharon stated, “I want to use SDM because it will help me achieve a good quality of life. SDM will help me use the right resources and support people so I can be as independent and healthy as possible.” 

Developing a Supported Decision-Making Plan Using Setting the Wheels in Motion 

Sharon stated, “I want to make decisions so I can manage the important things in my life: my health, my finances, and staying in my apartment. I want to have a team of people I trust to do the following:  

  • Help me understand the choices I need to make so I can make the right decisions for me. 
  • Give me information I can understand and use. 
  • Help me organize a Supported Decision-Making team so I can decide what I can do by myself, what I need help with and what I need someone else to decide for me.  
  • Help me tell other people about my decisions.” 

Part 1: How can I use supported decision-making? I would like to have a team of people help me with some decisions by offering me information and support.  

Part 2: Who should be on my team? I want to have a mix of team members with different skills: someone knowledgeable about cerebral palsy and aging, someone who has managed changes in their vision and hearing and lives in the community, and someone who is good with money management. I want these people to support me, not take over. 

Part 3: What are my goals?  I want to stay in my apartment. I want to be as independent as possible. I want to figure out what daily activities I need help with.  I want to update my healthcare power of attorney. 

Part 4: How often should my team meet?  I will talk to my niece, my doctor, my pastor and the senior center and see if they agree to be on my team. If they can’t do it, I’ll ask them for other ideas. I would like the team to meet with me once a month in the beginning, until I get some things sorted out. Then we can decide on a schedule. 

 

Sharon’s Supported Decision-Making Plan 

HEALTH  I can manage these things on my own   I would like some support to make these decisions.   I think I need someone to make these decisions or do this for me  Resources 
Taking care of my health  I schedule my medical appointments as needed. I use a paper calendar for my appointments. 

 

I would like to evaluate my apartment for ways I can decrease the risk of falling. 

 

Signing up for the community senior check in service (they call once a day to see if you’re doing ok). 

 

 Setting up appointment reminders on my phone.  

 

Talking with my doctor and the senior center about where to get a hearing evaluation. 

 

Talking to my eye doctor about cataract surgery.  

 

 

  

 

 Home Safety Checklist 

 

Older Adult Fall Prevention, STEADI Website 

 

Area Agency on Aging  

 

Senior Center 

 

 

 

 
HEALTH, continued  I can manage these things on my own   I would like some support to make these decisions.   I think I need someone to make these decisions or do this for me  Resources 
Medical Emergencies and Making Important Health Decisions  Call 911 when I have an emergency, like I once did in the past. 

 

Get a medical ID bracelet so people can help me in an emergency. 

 

I have a healthcare power of attorney, but it might need to be updated.  

 

 If I fall and have a serious injury and need immediate help, my neighbor, apartment manager or niece can call 911.  

 

 

 

 

 

 The EMS and hospital can call my niece so she knows what is happening and can make a medical decision if I am unable to.   Healthcare Power of Attorney Resource Guide 

 

NC Healthcare Power of Attorney Form 

 

 
Keeping track of my Health information  I keep my medical papers in a locked box in my bedroom.  

 

I’ll let my niece know where these papers are stored. 

 I think I need some help preparing for medical appointments, so I don’t forget the important things.  

  

 

 Listing my niece on the HIPPA forms.  Ask Me Three 

 

HIPPA Privacy Release Form 
FINANCES  I can manage these things on my own   I would like some support to make these decisions.   I think I need someone to make these decisions or do this for me  Resources 
Managing my Money  I have a checking and savings account, debit and credit cards. 

 

My Social Security is a direct deposit.  

 

I review my bank statements every month. 

 

I will sign up for a class on avoiding scams at the senior center. And ask the bank to alert me if something seems off.  

 

 

 I would like to set up auto pay for some of my bills: utilities, internet, phone. 

 

I would like my niece to help me review my budget and decide if I need to make any changes. 

 

I’ll start looking at my banking statements every week.  

 

 

 

  

 

 

   Simple Financial Tools Resource Guide 

 

Power of Attorney Resource Guide