Frost finds word of mouth the best advertising
Tuesday, November 29, 2005 -- John Driscoll
It may be the Internet information age but Linda Burr has discovered that word of mouth is still the best form of advertising.

Linda, administrator at Frost Manor, says one of the Lindsay home’s major achievements in 2005 was in meeting the provincial mandate to have registered nurses on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We were not successful with the usual advertising,” Linda explains. “We had much more success spreading the word ourselves.”

That word-of-mouth campaign included Linda personally canvassing the local hospital for potential staff.

The challenge for 2006 will be to keep the RN staff complement, she says “It’s a day-to-day challenge.” There are three other nursing homes in the immediate vicinity including a new one and there are only so many RNs to go around, she points out.

Nancy Lafete, an RPN at Frost for 20 years, graduated as an RN last year and is a huge asset to the home as the main day RN at the home, Linda says.

She does not mince words when talking about the provincial 24-hour RN mandate. “This was an unreasonable demand and huge injustice to RPNs,” says Linda who worked as an RPN before taking on the administrator’s job.

“RPNs just flourished in long term care,” she says. “We were allowed to use all of our skills and became the backbone of nursing homes.”

Case Mix Index (CMI) results that determine provincial funding for next year will be late coming out this year and could result in staffing challenges next year if they result in reductions in funding, Linda says.

The completion of renovations at Frost was another success story this year, keeping the home competitive in a very competitive market. “We were in an unusual position with all kinds of new long term care beds developing around us,” Linda says.

The installation of a beautiful fireplace lounge replacing an institutional nurses’ station, new therapy gardens, restorative kitchen, satellite dining room for fine dining and user-friendly offices were welcomed by residents and staff, she says.

“With an excellent staff, awesome residents and a beautifully renovated home, we are looking forward to meeting the challenges of 2006.”