Creative supportive measures help Streamway residents
Tuesday November 20, 2007 -- Deron Hamel
Imagination plays a big part in creating supportive measures for residents at Streamway Villa.

Kerrie Chapple, the Cobourg long-term care home’s clinical care co-ordinator and supportive measures specialist, says residents benefit from the many supportive measures utilized by staff members.

And supportive measures at Streamway takes on a variety of forms.

Tammy, one of the home’s dietary aides, has an artistic flair, says Chapple. Tammy enjoys making mealtimes both pleasurable and fun.

“If ketchup is needed for a meal, she will be creative and draw heart shapes or smiley faces on the meal,” says Chapple.

One of the home’s residents works four days per week. This resident will have a lunch prepared for her by the nutritional care staff for her to take to her job. However, this resident often refuses to take her lunch bag with her.

Tapping into her creative nature, Tammy has found that if she draws a picture on the resident’s lunch bag, the resident becomes more inclined to take her lunch to work.

Tammy also enjoys drawing pictures on the dining room’s menu board to help make residents’ mealtime experience more fun, Chapple notes.

Encouraging residents to become active in helping with the home’s chores has also proven to be an effective supportive measure for several years, says Chapple.

Staff members engage residents in simple tasks including folding towels, peeling potatoes and clearing tables following meals.

One valuable supportive measure staff members have discovered is that some residents enjoy giving neck and back massages to their fellow residents and to staff members.

These residents enjoy making others feel better by providing a meaningful service and the compliments they receive from staff members provide a healthy dose of self-esteem.

It’s a win-win situation, because the residents who enjoy giving massages are of great help to staff members.

“One resident recognizes residents in distress and will take it upon herself to help soothe them with a neck massage,” says Chapple.