OMNI homes embracing assets to meet demands of act

Staff members, families, core programs all key drivers

July 28, 2010 -- Deron Hamel

OMNI Health Care-owned long-term care homes are largely embracing their strongest assets — dedicated staff members and families, as well as effective core programs — to help meet the demands of the province's Long-Term Care Homes Act, which was proclaimed July 1.

The act includes many changes to care delivery, as well as to educational standards that staff members must meet. By turning to assets already existing in homes, administrators say they build upon strengths to overcome obstacles.

At Country Terrace in Komoka, administrator Connie Daly says her target is to engage residents, families and staff in the act's major points to ensure everyone has a clear understanding of how the act will affect them.

"(It's about) making sure that residents and staff feel that they are being heard on a regular basis, so that when they start getting asked questions from compliance they don't feel like this is the only person who's going to listen to me, so I'm just going to give it all out," says Daly.

Sandra Brow, the administrator and director of care at Pleasant Meadow Manor, says management and staff at the Norwood long-term care home will be going over OMNI's core programs — Respect Always; Supportive Measures; Safety First; Healthy Living, Healthy Skin; and Pain and Comfort — to help foster increased awareness of how these programs can help meet the act's demands.

With the proclamation of the act, Brow points out that "a magnifying glass" has been put on the sector, with respect to care being delivered, and this will likely lead to better resident outcomes.

"OMNI has a lot of core programs in place already to address the new act," says Brow.

"For instance, we've got our Respect Always program, we've got our Supportive Measures program, so we've been well-positioned for a long time."

OMNI homes have had to face challenges in the past brought on by sector changes, but by coming up with innovative solutions they have successfully met demands.

In fact, OMNI homes have garnered a reputation for successfully being able to create solutions to challenges.

Mary Lynn Lester, the administrator and director of care at West Lake Terrace, says other homes in Prince Edward County have contacted her, asking how OMNI plans to meet the demands of the new act.

"I have had quite a few administrators from outside of OMNI call me to ask how OMNI is proceeding with changes and could I be of any assistance to them," she says.

"This is quite a compliment to the OMNI organization."

If you have a story you would like to share with the OMNIway, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

— With files from Michelle Strutzenberger

If you have feedback on this story, please call the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 23, or e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.ca.

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