Author: Alexa Bierstock

A Year and Legacy of the “Leading & Learning with Pride” Tool Kit

Posted on June 20, 2023 by - Bruyère

2SLGBTQI+ inclusion has become a hot topic among LTC homes, care providers and seniors. Last spring, we shared that the City of Toronto refreshed an older version and launched the Leading & Learning with Pride Tool Kit. We wanted to catch up with Joseph Friedman Burley, staff lead and one of the co-creators of the Tool Kit to learn more about what’s happened since launch.

SSLTC has achieved great success over the first year of implementing the Tool Kit. Joseph, a Management Consultant, Seniors Services and Long-Term Care (SSLTC), described that he and other SSLTC team members had the “experience of a lifetime creating this Tool Kit,” connecting and working with older members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community. The Tool Kit has been rolled out in the ten City of Toronto directly-operated LTC homes. Over 40 presentations on the Tool Kit have been delivered, reaching 1000+ providers in LTC homes and seniors services across the province. SSLTC also worked with The 519 and the Senior Pride Network, two local 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to develop, deliver, and evaluate interactive workshops on the Tool Kit for staff. These workshops engaged SSLTC staff in thoughtful dialogue and exercises to enhance their capacity to provide more inclusive care to Rainbow Seniors in LTC.

Each of the City of Toronto’s ten long-term care homes has appointed a Pride Lead on staff to champion 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion. Many of these Pride Leads have helped create initiatives to advance  2SLGBTQI+ inclusion, such as Pride events and a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA). True Davidson Acres (TDA) is one City of Toronto LTC homes that has taken strides to implement recommendations from the Tool Kit. They have many 2SLGBTQI+ identifying residents, coordinate pride celebrations and community outings to The 519 , and TDA’s GSA connects with the GSA at the local middle school for intergenerational initiatives, including a Pen Pal program.

Many lessons were learned through the Tool Kit refresh. Burley highlighted the value of  bringing diverse people and perspectives to the table, noting that “No one knows everything, but together we know a lot”. The Tool Kit helped unite LTC providers, residents and community stakeholders to share knowledge on this critical topic. Burley explained how this experience taught him how to work with Rainbow Seniors to effect change and transform care and services. Since every individual in the 2SLGBTQI+ community is different and has unique needs, providers must listen to and support them based on their needs. It is vital to listen to multiple perspectives from the community as each individual has their own intersectional identity and lived experience in healthcare and LTC.

Boost Your Team’s Confidence in Resident Interactions

Posted on June 19, 2023 by - Research Institute for Aging

 

When residents turn to your team members for assistance, company, or support, are they equipped to respond knowledgeably?

Boost your Environmental Services team’s proficiency and ability to interact and support residents with our new activity! This open access activity can also be beneficial as a refresher for family members and care team members.

Environmental Services team members, working in maintenance, laundry, and housekeeping, play a crucial role in ensuring LTC homes are clean, safe, and comfortable. While working in areas such as dining rooms, bedrooms, and common areas, they frequently interact with residents living with dementia or other complex, chronic health conditions. Our activity will increase team members’ confidence while navigating resident interaction scenarios in LTC by providing tested strategies and approaches.

Exceptional care starts by making sure every team member has the right skill set and knowledge. Enhance your Environmental Services team’s impact through this FREE activity offered by the Ontario CLRI at RIA!

This interactive activity explores seven resident interaction scenarios team members commonly encounter in a real-world care environment and suggestions on how to respond.

Take this 7-minute activity today! Find the eLearning activity here.

 

 

Scenarios and responses in this activity were developed in consultation with team members working in real world care settings. Thank you to Schlegel Villages University Gates and Aramark for their contributions to this eLearning activity.

New Nutrition in Disguise (NiD) Recipes and Resources Package available for download

Posted on May 26, 2023 by - Research Institute for Aging

The Ontario CLRI at RIA is excited to share that the new Nutrition in Disguise (NiD) Recipes and Resources package is available for download, and is available in English and in French!

In this package, you will find different recipe options for texture modification. The recipes available were also approved by residents in a taste-test based on appearance, flavour, texture and likelihood they would eat it again!

This package also includes other nutrition resources to help with scaling and taste- testing that your long-term care home can use.

Building Stronger Nursing Student Placements in Ontario’s Long-Term Care Homes

Posted on May 25, 2023 by - Bruyère

Ontario’s long-term care homes are critical for the success of our healthcare system, and nurses play an essential role in homes’ operation and system integration. The Government of Ontario has invested significantly in ensuring that well trained, motivated nursing students are graduating from Ontario’s 40+ nursing programs each year.

Students across the province in the Bachelor of Science of Nursing and in the Practical Nursing Programs spend a significant amount of time training in real life care environments through clinical student placements. Ontario’s long-term care homes offer placement opportunities at different stages of nursing education and represent important training grounds for students.

Understanding the importance of nursing in addressing the challenges presented by an aging population, the Nurturing Nursing Students in Long-Term Care¹ research project is examining the factors that support nursing students in choosing gerontology as their specialization after graduation. The goal is to build a student placement model that encourages the right students to choose a clinically and personally rewarding nursing career in long-term care.

Since 2021, the Ontario Centres for Learning, Research, and Innovation (Ontario CLRI) at Bruyère has been collaborating with St. Lawrence College researchers to better understand how the College’s clinical instructors get students ready for and how nursing students experience their placements in Eastern Ontario’s long-term homes. Putting this together with learnings from a rapid review² as well as information gathered from long-term care homes through the Ontario CLRI’s Preceptor Resource and Education Program in Long-Term Care (PREP LTC) program, the research team is developing an optimal model for nursing student placements in long-term care settings.

 

“The myth is that nursing in long-term care is limited in scope and that you lose your skills. But it’s very complex care. You also get to work with residents holistically. You get to improve their quality of life.” Jessica Hogan, Nursing Student and Research Project Coordinator.

 

For over 10 years, the Ontario CLRI has been working to improve the experience and practice of nursing students in long-term care. Discover how the Ontario CLRI and its collaborative efforts are shaping optimal models for nursing student placements below:

Want to become involved in the Nurturing Nursing Student in long-term care? Join the research team when they present at the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress 2023 and the Synapse St. Lawrence College conference. Read an interview with Jessica after her presentation at the Kingston Nursing Research Conference.