Concerned Friends diary
January 22, 2008
Long-Term Care/Mental Health Framework Implementation Project Committee: The committee meeting was about presenting the Project to the Toronto Central LHIN. The Project involves the development of an integrated process among LTC Homes, hospitals, and geriatric mental health outreach services to better serve individuals with serious mental health and behavioral issues.
January 25, 2008
LTC Staffing Standard Consultations: A meeting hosted by the Ontario Health Coalition to discuss the need for an average minimum of 3.5 hours of care per person per day in LTC homes.
January 28, 2008
LTC Common Assessment Tool: Two members of the Long-Term Care Homes Common Assessment Project presented to a small group of CF board members about this standardized assessment tool which is gradually being implemented in all Homes in the province. This is a set of computerized care management tools which help health professionals to assess and monitor the care needs of their residents. The tool focuses on the resident's strengths, abilities and preferences, is multi-disciplinary, and should lead to better care planning as well as a better understanding of the resources needed to deliver the care.
January 30, 2008
Family Councils' Program (FCP): A strategic planning session for the FCP which included discussion of the current status and the challenges foreseen for the Program and staff. The most recent estimate of the number of family councils currently functioning in long-term care homes is approximately 500 (out of a potential 630). Some of the councils are family-led, while others are led by a family member/staff combination. Starting and sustaining family councils and family council regional networks is challenging for family members, and they regularly need the assistance and resources provided by FCP staff. As one of the partners responsible for overseeing this ever-expanding program, we spend a good deal of time communicating with and supporting the three staff members and our partner, the Self-Help Resource Centre.
January 30, 2008 and February 13, 2008 Gay/Bisexual/Lesbian/Transsexual Committee: This committee is sponsored by Toronto Homes for the Aged to respond to the needs of this population in our long-term care homes. A manual is being developed which may be patterned after the Diversity in Action Tool Kit.
February 7, 2008
Family Councils' Program: A follow-up meeting with FCP staff regarding the strategic planning session.
February 12, 2008
Toronto Quality Summit: The first of five Quality Summits hosted by the MOHLTC and the Seniors Health Research Transfer Network to develop a common vision of quality in long-term care that reflects all aspects of the resident's long-term care experience. The summits, which will be held in locations across the province, bring together for consultation a broad range of stakeholders, including representatives from LTC homes, provincial LTC associations, Family Councils, Residents Councils, government, Local Health Integration Networks, researchers, quality improvement leaders, and data experts.
February 13, 2008
Cultural Competency Tool Kit: A lunch and final meeting of the Steering Committee of this project which is now complete. Aileen Carroll, Minister Responsible for Seniors, attended the lunch and was very enthusiastic about the final product, Diversity in Action. We all agreed that it will be important to evaluate the utilization and impact of this tool kit in six months or a year.
February 19, 2008
A reception for the new Minister of Culture and Minister Responsible for Seniors, Aileen Carroll, sponsored by the Ontario Seniors Secretariat.
February 22, 2008
Ethical Issues of Access to Long-Term Care Home Placement: A full day session hosted by the MOHLTC on how to balance the rights of people waiting in hospital for a long-term care bed in a home of their choice against the rights of people waiting in emergency rooms for that same acute care bed. It is our position that this thorny problem can only be solved with improvements to the system that result in more and better home care services, more complex continuing care and rehab services, more special units for those with behavioral issues, more supportive housing and improved quality of care in LTC homes.
February 25, 2008
Seniors Advisory Committee on Long-Term Care: A special consultation meeting on two issues: the staffing and care standards review and the proposed content of the regulations under the new LTC Homes Act. This was Concerned Friends' first opportunity to provide some feedback on the proposed regulations and we understand there will be more consultations to come. |
