This kind of resident-focused care is what OMNI CEO Fraser Wilson has been hearing about as he has made his way around the province, visiting OMNI homes. It's also setting the standard in quality of life issues, he says, helping residents "live their lives to the fullest potential."

Fraser says it was only two or three years ago when all residents were expected to be up at 8 a.m. to start the day. "Now what we do to accommodate residents is amazing," says Fraser.

He thinks of Kentwood Park, where early risers have formed their own 'breakfast club' at 7 a.m. It's an "advance social," says Fraser.

But if residents want to sleep in at an OMNI home, they can. One gentleman at Willows Estate in Aurora likes to get up at 10 a.m. That's when he has his bowl of cereal and a coffee, notes Fraser.

There are many examples of how supportive measures has transformed OMNI homes. Supportive measures is a philosophy and approach to care that involves employing creative techniques to address resident agitation. It also decreases the reliance on psychotropic medication.

As he travels around, Fraser says he is looking for three things from homes. He wants to hear individual stories, he wants to know what initiatives are being taken to give residents a sense of purpose and he wants to hear stories about how the use of pscyhotropic drugs is being reduced or eliminated.

Fraser shares a few of the examples he encountered to illustrate the power of supportive measures

· a former alcoholic resident at Springdale has a completely different internal clock than most other residents. She eats supper around 11 p.m. by microwaving a meal the nutritional care department has prepared for her well in advance. She doesn't go to bed until 4 a.m.
· at Streamway Villa in Cobourg, a resident was admitted restrained to a geriatric chair. Staff figured out how to reduce his reliance on psychotropic medications and now he is no longer restrained. "He has the freedom to go where he chooses," notes Fraser.
· Also at Streamway, a resident who chronically wanders would not sit down long enough to even eat a meal. Now, she eats on the run, as staff give her food that is easy to take on the go.
· At Forest Hill in Kanata, a resident was sleeping through the day, not the night, which was contrary to his life pattern and agitating for him. Fraser says staff has worked with him to the point where he was able to attend his daughter's wedding in the summer, something that did not seem possible in the beginning.

Fraser says residents are now living "like they've never lived before" in their long-term care homes. "There's a whole new level of satisfaction with our people, too," because of supportive measures, says Fraser.

"Our question, always," says Fraser, "is to see if there's a better way to extend the quality of life. Staff, on so many occasions, are helping residents get their mobility, dignity and independence back."

Ed is not the resident's real name.