Garden drives accountability focus at Pleasant Meadow
Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - OMNIway staff
The administrator of Pleasant Meadow Manor stressed a focus on accountability this past year at the Norwood long-term care home.

Connie Garden emphasized the importance of staff members being honest with both their colleagues and management and taking responsibility for their comments and actions. Through this process, Connie learned about the need for education in a few areas.

"An accountability focus at Pleasant Meadow has heightened awareness and the need for education for all staff on issues of resident abuse, education and supportive measures," Connie tells the OMNIway.

Connie says she drove the accountability focus at the long-term care because transparency is a value in which she believes. She aimed to make people responsible for "living the values and the OMNIway."

She says it's difficult to hold people accountable when they don't have the appropriate information and training. For example, Pleasant Meadow has focused on residents' rights. "If people don't know what's expected they can't help our residents," says Connie.

The emphasis on open communication has shed light on the need for better support on the floor and more education, Connie says. This will be the Norwood long-term care home's focus for 2005, "getting the gel happening. We know where we need to go," the administrator says.