Rosebridge
set to ‘rekindle’ interest in supportive
measures
Thursday, February
24, 2005 - Natalie Miller
 |
| Nelly Hobbs |
OMNI’s signature care approach
to supporting residents who have dementia will be
in the spotlight at Rosebridge Manor next month.
Staff members at the Jasper long-term
care home are hoping to generate excitement about
supportive measures throughout the entire Rosebridge
community. Supportive measures are creative interventions
staff members employ to reduce the use of psychotropic
medications administered to residents who have
dementia. Among those alternatives are music therapy,
reminiscing and getting residents involved in
household chores.
Rosebridge Manor Administrator Nelly
Hobbs says several events are planned “to
heighten and rekindle the interest in supportive
measures.”
“We feel it needs to have the
profile elevated again,” says Nelly.
She says Rosebridge is dedicating time
to “get it back in the forefront.”
While staff continue to employ supportive measures
and several have taken the training over the years,
Nelly hopes highlighting the care approach will
enhance the message that supportive measures are
“everyone’s responsibility. It’s
like anything. It loses the novelty and we’re
trying to get some of it back.”
A variety of employees at OMNI’s
16 homes have taken training in the care approach
developed by FCS International, which OMNI has
tweaked to suit its homes. Life enrichment co-ordinator
Kathy Barr and Heath Heffernan, registered nurse,
are supportive measures advocates at Rosebridge
and have taken extensive training.
Throughout March, Rosebridge will hold
trivias for draws and prizes. The home will host
a seminar luncheon March 30 for staff and family
members, as well as representatives from the local
Alzheimer society and Brockville Psychiatric Hospital.
Rosebridge is also planning to purchase
a teddy bear mascot it will name ‘Rosie’
as part of the initiative. “As a child a
teddy bear brought us a sense of security,”
explains Nelly. “We hugged it when we were
sad or tired.
“In March we are celebrating
how each one of us is a ‘Rosie’ to
our residents.” |
