Computer program helps life-enrichment staff
Thursday, May 24, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
Life enrichment co-ordinators (LECs) and activity aides at OMNI’s 16 long-term care homes are adopting a computer program which will document individual residents so staff can better serve them and their families.
The program, called ActivityPro, was developed by Ron Martyn, co-founder of Silver Meridian, a Whitby-based training and consulting company specializing in working with the long-term care sector. ActivityPro enables LECs to access detailed profiles of residents so they know their needs, likes and dislikes.
LECs will use the program to document information on each resident. Information entered into ActivityPro will include activities participated in, birthdays and health conditions.
“Participants initially assess and evaluate their programs, and then map out new programming strategies,” the company’s website explains. “The software streamlines tasks while enhancing the level, degree and quality of resident and program assessment.”
LECs and activity aides from each OMNI home have been participating in training sessions hosted by the company. The sessions have been held at the Best Western Otonabee Inn in Peterborough. The first session was held April 11 and a second was May 3. There will be a final session June 27.
The first session was an orientation where life-enrichment staff was provided with the program disks. The second session was a question-and-answer seminar which dealt with troubleshooting. The third session will be a wrap-up.
“We ecstatic to have (the program),” says April Anderson, LEC at Burnbrae Gardens in Campbellford. “Overall, it will be a great asset to our department . . . It will bring all of the LECs on the same page.”
Anderson says once fully implemented, ActivityPro will have several applications. For instance, when long-term care homes are audited by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, LECs will be able to provide documents showing how many residents attend programs and which ones they enjoy most.
ActivityPro will also be useful in discussions with residents’ families.
“It gives them a bird’s eye view of what their mom or dad is doing,” says Anderson.
