Specialist zeroes in on depression
PSW to track whether it’s seasonal
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 -- Natalie Miller
A supportive measures specialist will track whether less sunlight contributes to an increased level of depression in residents at Springdale Country Manor.

Personal support worker Scott Ladoucier is currently working with nutritional care staff and nursing staff on monitoring residents who are currently feeling physically or mentally unwell.

“There are some cases of depression,” says Scott.

He says the reasons for depression vary from resident to resident, but for some, it’s a matter of not having someone to talk to and “I’m there to lend an ear,” he says. “Sometimes it’s a bad day; sometimes it’s a little more than a bad day.”

Scott is interested in determining if the depression is seasonal and will begin tracking mood in January once the Christmas season is over.

“I’m going to be monitoring that as the season progresses.”

This supportive measures work is possible through the creation of a special department at the Springville long-term care home.

The department was created in May in order to give supportive measures a daily, formalized focus at the Springville nursing home.
Specialist Sandra Munro and Scott work together so there is a supportive measures specialist on shift from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Supportive measures is a practice whereby caregivers focus on individual needs and preferences of residents living with Alzheimer disease or related dementia, to increase quality of life. By identifying factors that trigger resident agitation, supportive measures can be put in place to remove many of these factors from the resident’s daily life. Behaviour mapping, medication mapping, and the use of resident assessments to determine resident needs, strengths and preferences are all part of the supportive measures discipline.

“Our little department has been having monthly meetings.” The supportive measures department at Springdale consists of Scott, clinical care co-ordinator Kathy Shewell and Sandra. “We’re gearing up right now to start the training,” says Scott.

Training of Springdale’s approximately 70 employees in supportive measures will commence in January. For the most part Springdale is working with OMNI’s corporate supportive measures agenda, training plan and timelines, says Scott. OMNI committed to having all of its approximately 1,500 employees trained in supportive measures by the end of 2007. Fifty-three OMNI employees took part this summer in 12 training sessions to equip them with the skills to be certified educational trainers and resource personnel.