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At IKOR of Western Pennsylvania, we rely on Home Care providers to support most of our clients. As we were helping some clients, we recognized that sometimes home care providers weren’t precisely meeting the individualized needs of those that we serve. Sometimes our clients require support from someone with a higher level of education or different types of skills and expertise than is offered by the Home Care medical model. 

The IKOR Life Enhancement Specialist program started to meet the individual needs of one client, and over time, we realized it was helpful for other clients as well. The services provided by our Life Enhancement Specialist do not include any personal care activities. IKOR Life Enhancement Specialists focus more on Instrumental Activities of Daily Living that are not already addressed by our IKOR Advocacy team or other service providers like Home Care. 

IKOR Life Enhancement Specialists work with clients whose needs range from physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual from pediatrics to geriatrics. The IKOR Life Enhancement Specialist works with the IKOR Advocacy to plan, coordinate, and implement meaningful therapeutic interactions and life skills activities with the clients based on the individualized interests of the client. While recovery or improvement around life skills may be the direct goal, the focus is on self-confidence, self-care, and quality of life. We focus on what makes a person a better person, and we work to evoke insight, connection, and community engagement with those we support in this program. 

We address the life purpose and quality of life of individuals as well as helping with instrumental activities of daily living and Life Skills. The focus of this program is to address the whole person with an emphasis on enhancing independent functioning within physical, social, cognitive and emotional areas of life.

Life Enhancement Specialist Support

IKOR Life Enhancement Specialists provide the following types of support:

  • Leisure activities 
  • Education and vocational
  • Quality of life activities
  • Life skills training
  • Development of Coping Skills 
  • Stress management
  • Social skills
  • Community integration
  • Exercise and sports
  • Manual, visual, and expressive arts
  • Gardening
  • Pursuing hobbies
  • A therapeutic outing designed to meet specific goals for community integration
  • Supports for family intervention
  • Vacations and other life-enriching activities
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IKOR Life Enhancement Specialists work with our advocacy team to create individualized plans for our clients. IKOR Life Enhancement Specialists have training and experience to support in these and other areas and are recruited to meet the specific individual needs of the client:

  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Recreational Therapy
  • Mental Health
  • Disabling conditions
  • Counseling
  • Cognitive or educational psychology
  • Group dynamics and leadership
  • First aid and Safety
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Dietary and Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Health Care
  • Recreation and leisure services

There is a purpose behind the activities that are specifically designed to meet the needs of each client.  When individuals are suffering from a physical injury or mental illness, they need help learning, not only how to live with their disability but how to thrive in life . We focus on enhancing their quality of life and reducing the isolation that those with disabilities can experience. Sometimes they need help to make healthy changes in their lifestyle and encouragement to participate in leisure activities. Individuals who use our services become more informed and active partners in their health care. We assist individuals in coping with the stress of illness and disability and prepare them for managing their disability so they may achieve and maintain optimal levels of independence, productivity, well-being, and quality of life.

When we’re working with clients through our IKOR assessment process, and we recognize a need for life-enhancing support around life skills and recreational activities, we recommend the Life Enhancement Special as part of an ongoing care plan. We do not offer Life Enhancement Specialist support outside of our IKOR of Western Pennsylvania programs.

If you have questions about how our Life Enhancement Specialist Services might best support a senior, an adult with disabilities, or a child with special needs in your life, CALL THE OFFICE today for a complimentary consultation to learn more about us.

Services / Life Enhancement Specialists