Aside from being in the same home in the same position for the same amount of years, the two also believe that what they have been listening to at the Rockhaven Motel and Convention Centre in Peterborough is a good, solid review of concepts they already knew. The two have been listening to Len Fabiano, supportive therapy specialist, who was speaking to a large crowd of OMNI representatives from the western-area homes.

"I like the enthusiasm here, the positive feelings," says Tania.

"He's an awesome speaker," agrees Harmony.

Tania says that she has done a lot of what Fabiano suggests already. Looking for those cues in faces and body language.

Harmony notes that "all this is in place at our home." "I think we're ahead of the game in many ways."

Kelly McMillan knows that she has done a few things wrong, and she wants to correct that.

After listening to Fabiano the personal support worker thinks back over the last few months as to how she has provided care to the residents of Riverview Manor.
"I've noticed things I've done wrong, when I think back," notes Kelly.

"And I want to correct that," she adds, "now that I have a better understanding of how dementia care works."

A frontline health care worker for almost nine years, the PSW has worked at the Peterborough home in a health care aide capacity for most of that time. But last year she upgraded her health care aide certification into the PSW designation.

"I've seen a lot of the things he's [Fabiano] talking about. I have wondered sometimes why certain residents were agitated. Now I can modify the way I do things" to make a difference, she says.

Kelly says that if she can get to know a family better, then she can understand better the things and approaches that are needed to assure strong care.

"I need to get to know residents well - I need to because I'm the frontline caregiver," says Kelly. "Without a family, it is difficult to get to know some people, to find out what makes them tick," she says.

Kelly plans on applying what she learns at the workshop sessions as soon as possible back at Riverview.

"I think it's very important to apply what I'm hearing about today."