MARKHAM, ON, Oct. 14, 2014 /CNW/ - "Person-centred care" – it's a powerful concept that is easy to embrace but more difficult to pull off.
To support health organizations and providers in creating a "culture shift" from being task-oriented to being person-centred, Saint Elizabeth Health Care is teaming up with the Alzheimer Society of Canada to deliver education and training on embedding the principles and practices of person-centred care within home care and long-term care settings.
A series of interactive workshops and a supplementary toolkit will be developed to share innovative ideas and practical strategies for bringing person-centred approaches to life, with measureable results. The two-year project is being funded in part by Health Canada, with in-kind contributions from both the Alzheimer Society of Canada and Saint Elizabeth.
"At Saint Elizabeth, we have a long history of being with people in their homes and understanding what they want and need," says Nancy Lefebre, chief clinical executive and senior VP at Saint Elizabeth. "This project builds on the foundational evidence gathered through our previous research work in developing guidelines for person-centred care of people living with dementia."
There is a surging demand for person-centred approaches in virtually every area of the health system and – as the population ages and needs evolve – a growing emphasis on home, community and long-term care.
Person-Centred Care in Action [VIDEO]
A caring friendship: Audrey and PSW Kam
"There is still no cure for Alzheimer's disease and most people living with it will eventually need long-term care," says Mimi Lowi-Young, CEO at the Alzheimer Society of Canada. "But the good news is we can make their day-to-day life better, while supporting the staff who provide care and the families who put their faith and trust in the homes."
The project is being conducted in two phases:
The project will also help organizations meet the new compulsory person-centred care standards that have been added for 2016 by Accreditation Canada, as well as existing CARF Canada standards for long-term care homes.
About Saint Elizabeth Health Care
Saint Elizabeth (www.saintelizabeth.com) has been a trusted name in Canadian health care for more than a century and is a leader in responding to client, family and system needs. As an award-winning national not-for-profit and charitable organization, Saint Elizabeth is known for its track record of social innovation and breakthrough clinical practices. Our team of more than 7,000 nurses, rehab therapists, personal support workers and crisis intervention staff deliver nearly seven million health care visits annually.
About the Alzheimer Society
The Alzheimer Society (www.alzheimer.ca) is the leading nationwide health charity for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Active in communities right across Canada, the Society offers help for today through our programs and services, and hope for tomorrow by funding research into the cause, prevention and a cure.
Video with caption: "Video - Audrey is a client of Saint Elizabeth who continues to live independently at home with the help of her personal support worker, Kam. Over the course of the past year and a half, they have become close friends.". Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43U8M9bdX7Y
SOURCE: Saint Elizabeth Health Care
Media: Madonna Gallo, Head of Public Voice, Saint Elizabeth - Corporate, (905) 968-6430, [email protected]; Organizations: Tracy Scott, Program Lead, SE Health Career College & Education Services, 204-253-3560, [email protected]
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