This is a bi-weekly newsletter designed to create connections across the Long-Term Care and Assisted Living sector at Vancouver Coastal Health. It is an opportunity to share best practice and innovations, celebrate successes and get to know what our colleagues are doing at VCH, and beyond, to create the best possible experience for residents, families and staff at our homes. We want to build our COMMUNITY, so please share this newsletter widely and send us your stories!

I noticed a resident sitting off to the side, removed from the rest of the group who were watching TV.  I sat down beside her and we held hands. She shared memories of her past as it related to the show on TV. Although she was having some word finding challenges (something I can relate to of late!), the emotion of memories past spoke volumes. As I was getting up to leave, she looked me in the eyes and said “you are even more beautiful to me now”. It was clear to me that she wasn’t talking to me about what I look like behind the mask that I was wearing but she was sharing how I had made her feel. It was a reminder to me about how very important those emotional connections are, and how we all play such an important role in making them happen in the moment. 

~ Ursula Piotrowski, Interim Manager, Dogwood Lodge

Meet the Infection Control Team for Long-Term Care

The VCH Infection Prevention & Control (IPAC) team has infection control practitioners specialized in Long-Term Care and Assisted Living, who are dedicated to reducing the spread of infections. The team consists of Allyson Hankins (Regional Manager-Community, Long-Term Care & Ambulatory), Jacqueline Hlagi, Ted Pincock, Leah Diamond, Esther Thompson, Jennifer Irwin, Lisa Krueckl and Timothy Vigneux (Infection Control Practitioners - ICPs). The IPAC team are available to help with education, routine practices, hand hygiene infrastructure and general infection control practice. If your home would like assistance, contact your ICP or email the IPAC LTC Team at ICP—LTC@vch.ca To learn more about IPAC and the consultative service, education and training that is available, you can visit: http://ipac.vch.ca/about-ipac

Wheelchair Icons - Download Free Vector Icons | Noun ProjectSharing and Connecting Through Education.  On November 5th and 17th, occupational and physiotherapists from Arbutus Care Centre, Lakeview Care Centre, Pinegrove, George Pearson, Adanac Park Lodge, Little Mountain Place, Point Grey, Braddan and Louis Brier care homes met together at National Seating and Mobility in Burnaby and participated in Part 1 of a four part series on wheelchair seating and positioning facilitated by Jill Wong and Melissa Clippingdale, OT Clinical Resource Therapists with the Long Term Care & Assisted Living Professional Practice Team. Participants reviewed assessment of the core anatomy and postures for wheelchair seating and mobility and had the opportunity to connect in person, ask clinical questions, and share resources. This four part series on Wheelchair Seating and Positioning will continue over the coming months, with the goal of skill building and practical applications for OTs and PTs doing wheelchair seating in LTC and for clinicians to have an opportunity to share knowledge, connect and network.

Hello... my name is#HelloMyNameIs - Growing Connections in Care Tree

Following from VCH's third annual Hello My Name Is campaign in July, the Patient Experience Team helped launch Growing Connections in Care Trees at Banfield Pavilion and Cooper Place. The trees highlight the importance of simple introductions and help create connections between residents, families and staff. For more information about this campaign, please visit #Hellomynameis campaign or email Experience@vch.ca.

Building Our Community.  The Community of Practice held the final meeting of the year on November 16, 2021.  Attendees watched a presentation by Marie Carlson on the topic of Sexual Health & Intimacy in Long-Term Care, Assisted Living, Group Homes & Supported Housing and then engaged in a case study discussion.  A pilot launch of e-learning modules on this topic will be coming in the new year. Recordings of this meeting and past meetings can be found in the LTC Community of Practice Tab on this webpage (scroll to the bottom of the page to find the tab):

http://www.vch.ca/for-health-professionals/long-term-care-assisted-living-resources

Thank you to everyone who has attended the meetings, suggested topics, and helped get the Community of Practice started this year.  We hope to grow the Community in the new year.  If you would like to receive emails about the Community of Practice, please email VCH-LTC-Connections@vch.ca to be added to the mailing list.

Computer Icons - Download Free Vector Icons | Noun ProjectSupporting Client Change in Therapeutic Recreation: Are We Doing Everything We Can? In therapeutic recreation, we often identify that we support client change. Whatever kind of changes we support, it is helpful to explore our thinking about change and to consider how we might become more sophisticated and effective in our efforts to support client change. Presented by Dr. Colleen Hood, this virtual workshop will examine our own theories of change as they relate to our work with clients (theories of action). Participants will then explore ways to improve personal theories-of-action by incorprorating scholarly theory. (See attached poster for more details)

WHEN: Wednesday, February 2nd, 8:30-10:30 a.m.

WHO: Recreation therapists and recreation assistants

COST: VCH staff: FREE - fees covered by VCH Professional Practice; Non-VCH staff: $30 (Contact Serena Maltais serena.maltais@vch.ca regarding payment)

To register, visit: https://bit.ly/3I0z1yo

Computer Icons - Download Free Vector Icons | Noun ProjectLTC+ Acting on Pandemic Learning - November Webinar. The BC Patient Safety & Quality Council and Healthcare Excellence Canada's LTC+: Acting on Pandemic Learning Together November coaching session will feature the experiences of 3 initiatives happening throughout BC as a result of the LTC+ funding. This webinar takes place on November 29th from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Click here to join the event: https://bcpsqc.ca/event/ltc-november-coaching-session/

Mental Health Icons - Download Free Vector Icons | Noun ProjectPromising Practices for Supporting Long-Term Care Provider Resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted everyone who lives in, works in and visits long-term care.  This report, commissioned by Healthcare Excellence Canada but researched and produced by the Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC) Group at the University of Alberta, explores the lived experience of staff during the pandemic, and the work that is underway at homes across the country targeting provider mental health and well-being. Recommendations for future research and programming are presented based on the findings of the study.  You can read the report here: https://bit.ly/3E4HkHq

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