Rosebridge Manor restorative care aide Krikit Craig Wallace paints the nails of resident Bonnie Sloboda.
One-to-one support for residents part of everyday life at Rosebridge
Friday February 29, 2008 -- Natalie Miller
JASPER, ON — Whether she is painting a resident’s fingernails or reading to another senior, restorative care aide Krikit Craig Wallace regularly supports residents on a one-to-one basis.

The Jasper long-term care home has a cart equipped with books, a portable music player and other items that employees can wheel to residents’ rooms easily to deliver a little extra TLC. Craig Wallace says she customizes the time she spends with each resident to meet individual needs or preferences.

“Reading, nail-painting, massage, playing cards, soft music or a matching game or just even conversation” are part of the home’s one-to-one programming, says Craig Wallace.

Each day at Rosebridge Manor, four residents receive one-to-one support in approximately 15-minute intervals, depending on the level of extra care they need, she says.

Kathy Barr, the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator says similar support is provided to residents during the evenings as well, with staff responding accordingly to meet residents with the highest needs at that given time.

Providing one-to-one support is one tool OMNI staff members use to care for residents who have dementia. One-to-one support is part of the supportive measures curriculum all OMNI homes have embraced.

Supportive measures encompass holistic approaches to caring for residents with dementia with the emphasis of eliminating or reducing the need for psychotropic medications. Supportive measures training was delivered to all employees because the philosophy is everyone serves an agent in supporting residents whether they cook in the kitchen or work in the laundry department.

Rosebridge’s approximately 60 staff members have completed the supportive measures training program. To mark the accomplishment, the home hosted a celebratory dinner.

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