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Creative, collaborative
approach key to future: Morden
Residents expected to want more choice, engagement
Wednesday June 16, 2010 -- Lisa Bailey
Long-term care is embarking on a new era that’s more
responsive and less prescriptive, Pat Morden says.
Faced with changing demographics that have vastly different expectations
and needs, the chief executive coach at Shalom Village in Hamilton
points to a few keys to adapting.
“I think now homes are going to have
to be more responsive to their communities and think about things
in a more creative way,” Morden says, adding many homes do
that already.
She cites the current Residents First Quality Improvement Initiative
in Ontario as cause for optimism in the sector’s future.
Morden puts “a lot of faith” in it because, she says,
it marks the first time homes, government and residents have formed
a “real partnership” to “say what it is that would
make a difference in (residents’) lives and give us the tools
and support to figure that out and to implement it in our homes.”
She says long-term care “has been waiting” for this
type of collaborative process, as evidenced by the overwhelming
number of homes that wanted to take part in this first year.
About 100 homes are involved, with close to 400 participants possible
in the second year of a five-year process, Morden says.
“People are very enthusiastic in the
homes about the kinds of learning they’re doing, the collaboration
that’s happening and the outcomes. They can see that it’s
going to make a difference.”
Morden sees a few changes in demographics necessitating that
long-term care change.
First, the baby boom generation – those born after the Second
World War who form history’s largest demographic – are
approaching their senior years.
These people and the families, Morden says, “are used to having
all sorts of options” so they will be “looking for homes
that give them a lot of choice to live their lives.”
This means offering a different living environment, with restaurants,
for example, and more comforts of home.
“You look at what (baby) boomers have brought with their children;
you just have to look at the other end, they’re going to want
all that for their parents. And so they’re going to want overnight
options, reasonable respite services, that kind of thing,”
Morden adds.
As well, long-term care will see more people with intellectual disabilities
as a result of the inclusion movement.
“Again, it’s going to be more
choice and being engaged in the community.”
Lastly, the sector is caring for people with dementia and
Alzheimer’s disease for longer periods of time.
Technology and education are tools that will help meet these diverse
and complex needs, Morden says.
Homes already have a “good start” on technology, with
more advances likely to help people remain independent.
Education will have to become more responsive, Morden says, so staff
have a knowledge base for care of the frail elderly, for example,
as well as an ability to “think outside of the box”
and be creative.
Noting the loss of at least one university-level gerontology program,
Morden wonders about the uptake of programs and getting students
to think about caring for seniors, especially as health professionals.
A bright spot for Morden is that researchers are “starting
to see (long-term care) as an area of interest,” which will
likely grow.
If you have feedback on this article
please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 25, or e-mail
lisa(at)axiomnews.ca.
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