Ashley House Programs
Services include:
- Transitional care from hospital to home for children who still need a high level of nursing care, but no longer need acute hospitalization
- 24 hour nursing care in small group home settings
- Individualized treatment plans that include, as needed, physical, occupational and speech therapies, social work and education
- A warm caring environment where parents can learn to provide the care their children need
- Respite care for families caring for their medically fragile children in their own homes
- Care for children whose life expectancy is known to be limited
- Long term care for children whose care needs are so extensive that Ashley House remains the best option
In addition to around the clock nursing care, Ashley House provides social services support to the child and family. The ultimate goal is to have the children’s care needs stabilize and to teach the families (biological, foster or adoptive) how to care for them so they can return home. If a child cannot return home all efforts are made to include the family in care provided at Ashley House. For those children who do not have family, the dedicated Ashley House staff step in to provide nurture, love and support.
Ashley House staff work very closely with primary care physicians, DSHS, local schools and others pertinent to the child’s care so that every aspect of developmental domains are addressed. Children may spend several hours as an Ashley House resident, several months or the remaining years of their lives. Every effort is made to normalize life for Ashley House residents. When possible the children attend public school, participate in recreational and cultural outings and interact with other non-medically fragile children.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Current Needs
Ashley House is in need of expertise in the area of marketing, public relations and branding. After many years of providing excellent service to a most vulnerable population the agency finds that it is not well known or understood. As new endeavors are considered consultation with someone experienced in branding and marketing would be beneficial.
Recent Successes
A baby boy was born to a mother and father visiting relatives in Seattle; they were from an island country. He was delivered by emergency C-section and was found to have virtually no intestines. His parents had to return to their home, but there was no care for the baby in their country and they could not care for him in his fragile medical state. An aunt tried to care for him as did a foster parent and neither was successful. It was doubtful that he would ever reach a point of not needing extensive care. He was at Ashley House 3 years and in that time he was stablized to the point where he could eat some solid foods and his parents were eventually able to take him home to live them. Ashley House staff taught them how to care for their child.
A baby girl was born with severe breathing problems and severe cranial facial abnormalities. Her parents could not care for her and there was even suspected abuse. After almost two years in the care of Ashley House she has reached a point where she will most likely be able to have her trechyotomy removed and she will breath unaided. After several complicated surgeries she is well on the road to having a normal appearance that will allow her to assimilate into the world around her with little notice of any abnormal facial features.