Author: ChangeLTCNow

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality.  To change something, build a new model that makes an existing model obsolete”

R. Buckminster Fuller

Just imagine if politicians understood what quality of life looks like for persons living in long-term care homes!  Well, now you can see this for yourself.

Click on the video below and view between the 3:04 and 5:30 minute mark.

 

Below are the innovative models highlighted on our blog.  While each model possesses unique features, the fundamental elements integral to all of them are the development of relationships between staff and residents and their families and the caring that embraces kindness and compassion.  For more details on any of the models below, please scroll down our blog site.

• Hogeway Dementia Village, from Holland (this model has been implemented in Ontario, Alberta, and in progress in British Columbia)
• Eden Alternative: Over 300 homes in the USA and globally, 7 in Eastern/Central Canada and 1 in Saskatchewan (Sherbrooke Village in Saskatoon).
• Green House: 242 homes in 32 states in the USA with 150 more in various stages of development.
• Schlegel Villages in Ontario, 19 villages in Ontario
• Butterfly Care Home: Over 100 Butterfly Homes in the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and Canada – 7 in Alberta & 1 in Ontario with more promised.

All of us, whether we are family members, health care workers, or just interested citizens, can advocate for change in a system that needs to be changed.   With the Ontario municipal elections behind us, we have an opportunity to influence the 2019 priorities that will be set in the coming weeks in communities across the province.  You can start by contacting your local councillor and/or Mayor.  Please share your advocacy ideas under the comments section of this blog.

 

 

It looks like Peel Region’s initiative is continuing to have a positive influence.  First the City of Toronto followed suit and now Primacare Living has decided to bring the Butterfly Program to St Catherines, Brampton, London, and near Hamilton according to the October 24^th Toronto Star article.

Could we be on a roll?  If so, why is nothing happening in Brantford, Ottawa, Kingston, North Bay and other cities in Ontario?

And as we have highlighted in previous posts, it does not necessarily have to be the Butterfly Model!  Moira Welsh, the Star reporter, did research on other innovative models and stated “The Green House Project and Eden Alternative – both created by American Geriatrician Dr. Bill Thomas – share similar philosophies that favour small homes, social interaction and friendships between staff and people in their care.”

Let’s get going folks!  Now that the Municipal Elections are over in some provinces, you can send letters asking Mayors and City Councillors to champion transformation in one of the long-term care homes in your region. 

You can help by sharing our blog with your contacts and encouraging them to be followers.   Also, please share on your Facebook/Twitter accounts if you have them.

If we do nothing, nothing will change.

 

Betty is a past caregiver whose husband lived in a long-term care home.  She decided to increase awareness for innovation in our long-term care home system by organizing a panel at her church through the JOY (just older youth) program.

When asked “Do you think transforming our long-term care home system should be a municipal election issue”, the overwhelming response was “yes” (75 people).

If you agree, here is a draft letter you can personalize and send to those running in your ward on October 22nd.   Names and emails of candidates in Ontario wards can be found by searching “certified candidates for 2018 municipal election in (insert city name)”. There are only a few weeks left to plant these seeds.

If you are new to our blog,  scroll down to learn about the Butterfly model that  transformed a unit in one of the Region of Peel’s long-term care homes.

Please share this with your contacts and/or on your  Facebook or Twitter accounts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concept drawing for proposed Dementia Village in Metro Vancouver

Do you know what the main difference is between Ontario’s institutional long-term care home system and the innovative social models like the one now being proposed by Providence Health Care in B.C.?

Relationships, relationships, relationships – between and amongst staff, residents, families and the community

What does this actually mean?

• It means a “constructive culture of care” enabling staff to know who their residents and families are – and what their life was like before.
• It means residents are involved in many meaningful activities according to their abilities and what brings them joy.
• It means schedules and routines are flexible to match the residents’ preferences and needs.
• It means the surrounding community is invited to actively participate.

Providence Health Care is developing a concept for Metro Vancouver, based on the Dutch Hogewey Village model (scroll down for our first blog post re Hogewey in September 2017), that incorporates the above philosophy.   Read more here.

Please contact your MPPs again to urge them to fund something similar, perhaps as a pilot project, in Ontario when approving the new 5,000 long-term care beds.

AND PLEASE – encourage 3 of your contacts to “follow” our blog.  If you agree with our stance,  we really need your help on this to increase our influence.