OMNI staff network at Quality Summit
Ottawa event focuses on collaborating in long-term care
Monday March 31, 2008 -- Camille Jensen
Sometimes it’s as simple as a mesh bag to collect resident’s socks.

For Vi O’Leary, who recently returned from the Ottawa Long-Term Care Quality Summit, the problem of missing socks is common in most homes and a subject everyone at the event could relate to.

“This has been going on forever,” laughs O’Leary, life enrichment co-ordinator at Frost Manor, who says hearing about the issue at the conference made her smile.

While dirty socks was only one of the topics covered, the daylong event joined together people involved in long-term care to discuss similar concerns and share knowledge.

The summit was put on by the Seniors Health Research Transfer Network (SHRTN), a province-wide knowledge exchange network that is hosting events across Ontario.

O’Leary attended the conference with fellow life enrichment co-ordinator April Faux. Originally, both women had wanted to attend the event to learn of ways to improve their family councils – but quickly found the event had many areas of interest.

“It was very informative,” says O’Leary. “A lot of stuff you already know but there is always something you can get out of these types of things.”

Learning of other homes buying mesh bags to keep resident’s socks together was a helpful tidbit for O’Leary and something the Lindsay long-term care home may consider.

She says washing socks in individual laundry bags makes it not only easier for housekeepers but also appeases the residents, who will no longer complain about missing items.

For Faux, the day gave her many opportunities to talk with different homes about their family councils. The Campbellford long-term care home has been trying to create a family council for more than three years.

“They gave lots of good ideas of what works and what doesn’t,” says Faux who is eager to try the ideas at the home.

Members from family councils were at the event and offered first hand experience of their meetings. Hearing that other homes also struggled to set up a family council, Faux left the conference feeling optimistic and supported.

“It cleared up a lot of stuff for us,” says Faux.

The SHRTN plans to hold similar events on a regular basis and wants to include many different representatives from long-term care, including residents.

The network has also established best practice co-ordinators to help staff members introduce best practices into homes. Resource kits and education tools are available.

For more information, visit the Safety Research Health Transfer Network online.

Are there other resources that have helped your home? Contact the newsroom at (800) 294-0051 ext.24.

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at (800) 294-0051 or e-mail camille(at)axiomnews.ca.