Kalkaska Cerebral Palsy Resources

Care, Finance and Insurance

1. Health Care

Kalkaska - Kalkaska Memorial Health Center Outpatient Facility

Kalkaska Memorial Health Center’s Outpatient Facility

  • Kalkaska Memorial Health Center, a branch hospital of Munson Healthcare, is Kalkaska’s primary health care facility. Kalkaska Memorial Health Center’s medical staff consists of five family practice physicians and offers services ranging from assisted living to women’s and children’s health. People with cerebral palsy in Kalkaska can benefit from Kalkaska Memorial Health Center’s several forms of therapy, which we’ve detailed below.

Lifestyle Resources

1. Education

  • Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD): Special needs students in Kalkaska, Michigan can enroll in the Department of Special Education at the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District. The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District Department of Special Education provides education and educational resources to students with special needs through the age of 26. The district employs certified and trained educational specialists to teach students with autism spectrum disorders, cognitive impairments, early childhood developmental delays, emotional impairment, hearing impairment, learning disabilities, other health impairments, physical impairments, severe multiple impairments, speech and language impairments, traumatic brain injuries, and visual impairment. Many children with cerebral palsy have one or more of these disability areas. Below are some special education programs offered through Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District:
    • Early Childhood Programs and Services: Great Start Collaborative, Great Start for Kids, Great Start to Quality, Way to Grow/Playgroups, Early On, Infant – Toddler Team, and Special Education Assessments for Preschool Children Age 3-6.
    • Monitoring and Compliance
    • Parent Services
    • Special Education Programs: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Emotionally Impaired, Visually Impaired, Severe Mental and Multiple Impairments, Center Programs, Hearing Impaired, and Moderate Cognitive Impaired
    • Special Education Services: Assistive Technology, Autism Consulting Service, Curriculum Services, Early On and Infant-Toddler, Services for Visually Impaired, Assessments for Preschool Age 3-6, Behavior Specialist, Early On, Services for Hearing Impaired, and Transition Services.
  • Wexford-Missaukee Intermediate School District’s Special Education Department provides special needs students with programs and services including assistive technology, positive behavior supports, transition services, specialized curriculum, center-based programs, ASD services, itinerant services, special education supports, and more.

2. Care

  • VitalCare: VitalCare is a nonprofit nursing service organization serving residents of Northern Michigan. Services include visiting nurses, home health aids, medical social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, respiratory therapists, ventilator management, home oxygen delivery, wellness programs, adult day centers, medical equipment loans, and more. VitalCare is affiliated with McLaren Northern Michigan.

3. Transportation

  • Kalkaska Area Transit (KAT) provides door-to-door, advanced reservation transportation for residents in and around Kalkaska, Michigan. KAT also provides non-emergency medical transportation for individuals who require transportation to medical appointments in the area.

4. Adaptive Equipment and Assistive Technologies

  • TherAdapt: Roughly 110 miles southwest of Kalkaska is a Ludington company called TherAdapt®. Owned and operated entirely by therapists, TherAdapt® manufactures adaptive equipment and rehabilitative prducts to children with special needs and limited mobility. TherAdapt produces a variety of assistive technologies and adaptive equipment personalized to each child’s needs. Products include standers, desks, bathing chairs, adaptive chairs, adaptive car seats, toileting chairs, strollers, walkers, adaptive cycles, and other therapeutic and rehabilitative products.
  • Airway Oxygen Inc. Home Medical Equipment
  • Health Home Depot

Treatment and Therapy Resources

1. Interdisciplinary Therapy Programs

  •  People with cerebral palsy can benefit from the many therapy services available through Kalkaska Memorial Health Center. Below we’ve listed some of the therapy programs available at Kalkaska Memorial Health that are tailored to the complications associated with cerebral palsy.
    • Aquatic therapy, which benefits patients that cannot tolerate the pressures of land exercise and therapy.
    • Hand therapy, which fosters independence and function in cerebral palsy patients with limited hand mobility.
    • Occupational therapy, which restores a patient’s ability to complete daily tasks despite physical disability.
    • Physical therapy at Kalkaska Memorial Health includes joint dysfunction, aquatic, sports rehabilitation, fall prevention and balance training, gait abnormalities, surgical rehabilitation, and pain reduction physical therapies.
    • Speech and language therapy, which focuses on communication abilities and oral motor skills.
  • Dynamic Physical Therapy provides physical therapy treatment plans for individuals with cerebral palsy in Northern Michigan. Physical therapy exercises are specifically designed to treat injuries and conditions related to orthopedics, musculoskeletal problems, back and neck pain, neurology, surgical needs, balance disorders, hip, knee, ankle and foot, shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand, headaches, TMJ, and arthritic conditions. Other services include job analysis, functional capacity evaluations, and other work-related services. Dynamic Physical Therapy has offices in Manistee, Cadillac, Grayling, Buckley, Marion, and Traverse City.

2. Recreational Therapy–Charity Hills Ranch Animal Therapy

Rapid City Michigan, a town roughly ten miles northwest of Kalkaska, is home to the therapeutic riding center Charity Hill Ranch. Founded by Christine O’Connell as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Charity Hill Ranch offers therapeutic horse riding lessons to help disabled people live more physically, socially, cognitively, and emotionally fulfilling lives. Beyond therapeutic riding, the program offers special needs summer camps, parent programs and retreats, and more. For people affected by cerebral palsy, the classes available at Charity Hills Ranch restore ability to function independently, promote well-being, and encourage positive physical participation.

As a form of physical rehabilitation, animal therapy, particularly hippotherapy and equine therapy, has been proven to improve muscle tone, range-of-motion (ROM), strength, balance, and coordination in many children affected by cerebral palsy because the swinging rhythm of a horse’s walk transfers to the child’s pelvis in a way that replicates the normal human gait. A number of children with cerebral palsy all over northern Michigan enjoy Charity Hill Ranch’s therapeutic programs as a fun and productive form of complementary treatment.

3. Behavioral Therapy and Emotional Counseling

  • North Country Community Mental Health provides a range of rehabilitation, treatment, and support services for individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. Specific programs and services include adult counseling and therapy, assertive community treatment, child and family services, community support services for persons with developmental disabilities, community support services for persons with mental disabilities, family support services for persons with developmental disabilities, older adult services, and community-based services. North Country Community Mental Health serves cities in the northwest part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula including Gaylord, Charlevoix, Boyne City, Cheboygan, and Mancelona.

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