Springdale uses website to bring residents and families closer
Residents receive daily e-mails through FriendsofSpringdale.com
Friday April 18, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
In the nearly two years since it was launched, FriendsofSpringdale.com has been a valuable and innovative tool for helping residents at Springdale Country Manor keep in touch with family members and friends, say team members at the Peterborough long-term care home.

Since going online, the site has helped residents who have relatives and friends living far away from each other stay in contact via e-mail, says Maureen Imamovic, the home’s administrator and director of care.

Every day either Imamovic or supportive measures specialist Scott Ladoucier will check the site’s inbox for messages. Each message received is printed off and brought to the resident to read.

Because traditional mail is less common in the computer era, Imamovic says having a website has been an ideal resource for increasing correspondence between residents and their families.

From this process have come successes, says Imamovic.

One resident has a great-granddaughter living in Western Canada who recently had a baby. Thanks to the website, the resident was able to see pictures of the infant in less than an hour after the birth.

“The family knew about the website and e-mailed the pictures,” says Imamovic. “And here she is, an hour later, showing off pictures of her new grandchild. . . . That is, to me, really innovative.”

Ladoucier, who designed the website, says residents get about five to six e-mails each day delivered to FriendsofSpringdale.com. The effect this has on residents on an emotional level is outstanding, he says.

Because of the success the website has had, Ladoucier is planning to take it up another notch to engage more of the home’s 68 residents. His idea is to encourage family members to send e-mails to residents who don’t have anyone sending them correspondence.

“It could be your dad’s roommate doesn’t have a lot of family . . . you can send an e-mail to any resident, this is what I’m going to be pushing,” he says.

The success of the website was most apparent during a recent outbreak at the home, says Ladoucier. Since the home was under quarantine visitors were not allowed inside, which can be upsetting for residents.

“There was a real flood of e-mails,” he says.

Visit www.friendsofspringdale.com to find out more about Springdale Country Manor.

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