Forest Hill uses new techniques to support former Rideau Regional Centre resident
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 -- Natalie Miller
While the techniques of supportive measures are designed for taking care of people with dementia, Forest Hill staff has learned the individualized care approaches also apply to a resident with an intellectual disability.

When the Kanata long-term care home admitted a resident who was institutionalized at Rideau Regional Centre for decades, staff had to employ different techniques to meet his needs.

Having lived at the facility for people with intellectual disabilities, the resident was accustomed to that setting, explains Carolyn Della Foresta, life enrichment co-ordinator at Forest Hill. As a result, staff had new challenges meeting the resident’s needs.

For instance, the resident was accustomed to action-based instructions. While calling out in the dining room, he responds best to a firm, but dignified warning that if his behaviour doesn’t stop he’ll have to dine elsewhere. Whereas if a resident who has dementia is calling out, the same approach would not work, says Carolyn, noting in most cases, a resident wouldn’t understand that instruction.

“We would never (use) a warning,” says Carolyn.

“We may have to remove the resident but we wouldn’t (reprimand) them. We have to adapt to their behaviours,” says Carolyn. “He can understand that warning.”

Changing care approaches to meet residents’ individualized needs is the cornerstone of supportive measures training.

This particular resident is in long-term care because he has physical challenges not intellectual, says Carolyn. “He’s here because he’s an aging adult who needs help. We’ve seen a lot of positive changes.”

In addition to taking part in activities, the new resident is on the same level of medication he was on when arriving at Forest Hill and is not taking any psychotropics, Carolyn says. The home has received a wealth of assistance from both Total Communications Enterprises and the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

The Ministry is planning to move about 1,000 residents from Ontario’s remaining three large institutions to the community. The facilities are slated for closure by March 31, 2009. It’s part of the Province’s plan to move from an institutional-based model of supporting people with intellectual disabilities to one that is more community-based.

Since the closure announcement in the fall of 2004, this gentleman is the first Rideau Regional Centre resident to move into long-term care.

The Ministry of Community and Social Services’ deputy minister recently visited Forest Hill to see how the man was adjusting to his new surroundings.