Staff members rally together during outbreak
Everyone pulls together to ensure residents stay happy
Tuesday March 18, 2008 -- Deron Hamel
With only two outbreaks in the past eight years, Springdale Country Manor’s staff members don’t have much practice when it comes to dealing with challenges faced when residents are quarantined.

Nevertheless, everyone at the Peterborough long-term care home has pulled together to help keep residents’ spirits up and make the best of the situation after an outbreak was declared March 6.

The respiratory outbreak has affected 21 residents, as well as some staff members. The outbreak is expected to keep the 68 residents living at the home in their rooms until March 24 at the earliest.

A respiratory outbreak occurs when three or more residents or staff members exhibit two or more symptoms including nasal congestion, cough, fever or sore throat. Ailments include the common cold, influenza A or B and pneumonia.

Maureen Imamovic, administrator at Springdale, credits staff members at the home for their diligent efforts in keeping residents happy during this trying time.

“This staff — and I mean all staff — has really been doing the extra effort to make sure residents (stay happy),” she says.

Keeping residents happy during an outbreak is the biggest challenge staff members face when the home is quarantined, says Imamovic. But it’s the little things staff members do for residents that can make the biggest difference, she points out.

Office manager Kathy Moore recently brought flowers for every resident and put them at their bedside tables.

“Because everyone was shut in, I just thought it would brighten their lives up a bit,” says Moore. “They were thrilled just to get a little flower. It’s amazing.”

Moore has also been helpful to a resident who has a pet budgie. Normally, the resident’s family members come into the home to help care for the bird. However, because of the outbreak visitors are restricted from coming to the home.

“So Kathy is looking after the budgie,” says Imamovic.

Although the outbreak interfered with planned St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the home March 17, staff members made sure each resident was personally delivered green non-alcoholic beer and pop to their room so they wouldn’t miss out on the celebration.

With next weekend being Easter, Imamovic says staff members are going to make up for the holiday after the quarantine is lifted.

Imamovic says staff members in the housekeeping department have been instrumental in keeping the number of outbreaks over the years so low. In fact, when the home went through its recent accreditation assessment the surveyors commented frequently on how clean the building is kept, says Imamovic.

She adds that OMNI’s infection-control and pandemic training has helped mitigate risk of outbreak at the home.

“All of that has created a culture by where staff members are very aware,” says Imamovic.

What does your home do to keep residents happy in times of crisis? What are the best practices your home uses to keep outbreaks at bay? If you have a story you would like to share, please contact deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

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