Fabiano's supportive measures training:Day Two
January 31, 2003 Roderick Benns
PETERBOROUGH If it were not for the name badges, there might be an initial communication problem. Len Fabiano has staff mixed up in groups - three homes represented at each table -- to learn from one another. As he paces the room, the result of the home mix is exploratory conversations at each table at the Rockhaven Convention Centre in Peterborough. Staff compare anecdotes about situations in their long-term care homes and what they're taking away from today's discussion.

"It's all about how to define behaviour and how to come up with a format due to good charting and communication," notes Laurie Anderson, nurse's aid at Burnbrae Gardens in Campbellford.

Joyce Marshall, personal support worker (PSW) at Pleasant Meadow Manor in Norwood agrees. "We have to identify ways to prevent certain behaviours in residents before they escalate," she says.

Betty Patton, office manager at Frost Manor in Lindsay, says the high-risk case studies they have been looking at have allowed the staff to share solutions. "We've learned a lot from one another," she notes.

Shawn Riel says the learning can continue. Shawn, one of home office's operations people, says if the attendees complete all three days offered in the course by Len (CEO of FCS International) they will receive a certificate. Today was day two of three, with the third date scheduled for late February.

Shawn says there is also an intensive, 10-day certified program that will be offered for those wanting to specialize in this area, provided they get their initial certificate in the current three-day program.

One of the activities staff will take part in, says Shawn, is to create and become familiar with a "practices manual." The manual will allow each staff member to know the expectations for care in OMNI homes.

Supportive measures is a comprehensive behaviour management program encompassing a full range of functional assessment tools, programming options and care practices developed over 20 years of qualitative research and implementation.