This interactive series offers facilitators of the Java Music Club and Java Memory Care with an opportunity to enhance upon skills and knowledge. Although the series has passed, recordings of all of the webinars are available below.
This series is primarily targeted at Ontario homes who are already running Java peer support group programs, however, these webinars do discuss facilitation strategies more broadly, and offer tools and tricks beneficial to recreation professionals in the LTC sector.
Presenter:
Kristine Theurer, PhD, MA, MTA
Kristine Theurer is a researcher who pioneered the use of standardized peer support programs in senior living. Kristine leads training workshops for staff working in health care in Canada and the US and presents regularly at international conferences. She has a Master of Arts in Gerontology and received numerous research awards including grants from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. She serves on the planning committee for the national conference on culture change, hosted by the Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging.
Becoming an Extraordinary Group Facilitator
Original Air Date: April 23, 2018
What makes a group facilitator extraordinary? Join us as we explore strategies to enhance your facilitation skills. We will learn about the top 10 extraordinary skills every group facilitator should have and how to use them! We will provide strategies to engage group members as active participants. Finally, we will offer strategies for putting the techniques into action. This is the first webinar in a series of four, offered to facilitators of the Java Music Club and Java Memory Care.
Self-Checklist for Group Facilitators
Tips for Extraordinary Group Facilitators
Cultivating Empathy: Disarming Bullying
Original Air Date: May 23, 2019
How can we cultivate empathy in our practice and within the context of therapeutic group programs that we offer? Join us as we explore strategies to cultivate empathy. We will learn about four empathic habits and discuss strategies to increase empathy with and between those living with dementia. We will explore opportunities and methods for putting empathy into action. This is the second webinar in a series of four, offered to facilitators of the Java Music Club and Java Memory Care.
Dealing with Emotions
Original Air Date: June 27, 2018
Why increase emotional engagement with our residents? Join us as we explore strategies to deal with emotions that come up in Java group programs (or could come up in any program!). We will learn about three ways to increase emotional engagement, with a particular focus on how to do this among those living with dementia. We will explore ways to increase residents’ contributions within the Java programs. Finally, we will offer strategies to put emotional engagement into action.
Embracing Diversity
Original Air Date: July 26, 2018
Why does embracing diversity matter? Watch this webinar recording to explore strategies to increase inclusiveness in Java programs (and elsewhere). You will learn about ways to increase the number and variety of Java groups offered (e.g., men/women/culturally specific). Finally, we discuss strategies to put embracing diversity into action. This is the final webinar in a series of four, offered to facilitators of the Java Music Club and Java Memory Care.
Background
Social isolation and loneliness are common issues for residents in LTC, and better strategies are needed to counter the negative health outcomes, including depression, dementia, and increased mortality. The Ontario CLRI at Bruyère, in collaboration with Carleton University’s Department of Health Sciences, Bruyère Continuing Care and Java Group Programs, is exploring a solution to combat the staggering rates of loneliness in LTC. This solution uses meaningful peer support groups to encourage residents to foster camaraderie and support one another.
Learn more about the Power of Peer Support Project.
Presented By:
