Arlene Lawlor says the challenge of an imminent cutback in staff hours has been turned, in part, into a positive by doing some creative scheduling. The new scheduling will allow for a registered nurse to come in for a day shift three times each pay period to help improve the restorative feeding and wound care program at this 49-bed home.

“This nurse has been given extra training in wound care so we hope to be able to reduce incidences of skin breakdown in the home,” says Arlene.

The cutback in hours – 10 and a half hours per day as of the end of March – was achieved by eliminating one health care aide evening shift, as well as spreading out some of the additional cutbacks in hours among other positions. The decrease in hours was a result of case mix index (CMI) figures handed down by the Province that reflect care levels in each home.

“Staff had a lot of input with the schedule, which has helped some,” explains Arlene. The administrator says she met with the resident’s council last week to explain they were maintaining two baths per week per resident, which was instituted last October. “I also told them to let us know if there is any concern about care levels,” says Arlene, “and they were pleased to know in advance.”

Arlene says she is excited about the Tena disposable incontinence program that begins in April. Earlier, OMNI's CEO Fraser Wilson had identified additional laundry hours for the home, so Maplewood is expected to be largely unaffected by the lighter laundry loads that come with Tena implementation.

“We can get some project cleaning done,” says Arlene, referring to larger spring-cleaning chores not unlike residential homes go through. “We can do some more work in residents’ rooms, too, and do a thorough job on windows,” says Arlene.

With a lot of things now over for Maplewood for the year, including a Ministry of Health visit, accreditation and some Ministry findings that are now being resolved, the home is now able to concentrate on “the things we want to do,” says Arlene.

“There are always obstacles,” says Arlene, “such as recruitment and retention, especially in the summer time for summer relief shifts. But we’re fortunate we have staff longevity here overall.”