Welcome to the newest LTC-BPSOs pre-designates: 2020-2023!

By: Heather McConnell, RN, BScN, MA(Ed), associate director, IABPG Centre, RNAO, Citlali Singh, program co-ordinator, LTC Best Practices Program, IABPG Centre, RNAO

RNAO is proud to partner with  six new long-term care (LTC) Best Practice Spotlight Organizations (BPSO)® who joined the program in April 2020. These BPSOs, cohort G, will engage in the pre-designation period from 2020-2023, along with 15 additional LTC BPSOs currently in the pre-designation phase (cohort E - 2018-21 and cohort F - 2019-22). The addition of cohort G brings the total number of LTC homes engaged as LTC-BPSOs to 129.  

The new LTC-BPSOs who have joined the international designation program include:
•    AON Long-Term Care (2 homes)
•    Braemar Retirement Centre
•    HNHB Behavioural Supports Ontario (86 homes)
•    Mackenzie Health Long Term Care – Universalcare Canada Inc. 
•    Nithview Home – Tri-County Mennonite Homes

Leaders from cohort G joined RNAO staff at a virtual launch, the first session taking place on May 25th. They discussed approaches to collaborate with the association to build evidence-based cultures in their organizations through the systematic implementation of multiple clinical best practice guidelines (BPGs). They each provided an overview of their home, their goals, and the guidelines they have selected for implementation. They were formally welcomed into the program by RNAO's CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun. 

At the second session on June 2nd, representatives from select pre-designate and designate BPSOs shared BPG implementation strategies, with a focus on champion engagement, the relationship between the BPSO Liaison and BPSO Coach, establishing a program infrastructure, and integrating sustainability strategies into implementation planning. A third virtual session was held with each site individually in order to meet with their BPSO coach to clarify expectations of the initiative, identify key milestones, and prepare for implementation and evaluation. 

LTC-BPSO Cohort G virtual launch

AON Long Term Care Inc.

AON LTC logo

About:  AON Inc. is a family-owned Canadian company with a 45-year history of innovative living environments for older adults. Moria Place, a home in the Municipality of Tweed, is located in southeastern Ontario. Centennial Place, which is nestled in the rural community of Millbrook, is  in central east Ontario. AON has plans to build a third home in the town of Havelock.  

Number of residents: 128 residents at both homes

Number of staff: Over 140 staff at both homes

Special features:  These AON homes provide family-centred and inter-generational programs designed to promote community involvement and well-being. These homes have developed programs for complex health care services such as peritoneal dialysis and dementia care. Their wellness services promote a holistic balance of mind, body and spirit. The homes recently celebrated being recognized as having met standards for quality of service by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

BPGs selected for implementation: 
•    Preventing falls and reducing injury from falls
•    Delirium, dementia, and depression in older adults: Assessment and care
•    Preventing and addressing abuse and neglect of older adults: Person-Centred, collaborative, system-wide approaches

LTC-BPSO liaison: Tracey Roy RN, Director of Care, Centennial Place

Overall Goal for LTC-BPSO:  AON Long term Care Homes has set ongoing goals for continuous quality improvement and optimal care and services for the residents they serve. Through participation and partnership with the RNAO and BPSO Designation their goal is to further enhance resident outcomes through implementation and spread of best practices in all AON LTC homes. 

Braemar Retirement Centre
 

Braemar Retirement Centre: MacGowan Nursing Home Ltd. 

About: Braemar Nursing Home is a family owned and operated long-term care home. Our easily accessible, one-storey home is situated at the north end of Wingham Ontario and provides residents with a picturesque location which looks out onto some of Huron County’s prime agricultural lands. 

Braemar is named after a small village in Scotland, which was known as a place of gathering. The MacGowan Family holds their heritage dear to heart, and this is why Braemar is committed to creating an environment for resident's and their families to gather and become a part of the Braemar Family. 

Number of residents:  69 LTC beds, 4 respite beds

Number of staff: Approximately 70 staff across all departments

BPGs selected for implementation: 
•    Preventing falls and reducing injury from falls
•    Person-and- family centred care
•    A palliative approach to care in the last 12 months of life

LTC-BPSO liaison: Veronica George R.N. quality improvement nurse

Overall goal for LTC-BPSO: Braemar’s goal for becoming a LTC-BPSO is to create a space of celebration, joy, and happiness by ensuring a space in which the resident’s living within the home feel at home. To create a space of engagement and empowerment, not only for the individuals living within the home, but the individuals working within the home as well. We feel there needs to be change in LTC, and we want to be a part of that change! We want to focus on evidence-based practices and the positive impacts we can have on the individuals we serve, and of equal importance provide staff with a pleasurable work environment, one that fosters continual education and continued success. We believe engaged and empowered staff, engage and empower residents. 

HNHB Behavioural Supports Ontario

HNHB BSO logo

About: Behavioural Supports Ontario’s (BSO) is an integrated cross-sectoral support service designed to reduce the burden of care and improve outcomes for people with responsive behaviours. Its principles, service delivery, core model elements and implementation strategies are organized under 3 foundational pillars:  system coordination, integrated service delivery, and intersectoral and interdisciplinary.

Number of residents: more than 11 000 residents across 14 BSO programs in the Hamilton, Burlington, Brant, Haldimand/Norfolk and Niagara (HNHB) region. 

Number of staff:  81 employees cover 86 LTCH across HNHB region

Special features:  This province-wide, evidence and experience-based framework is built on a person-centred framework: “I am who I am so help me continue to be me”. It provides consultative non-pharmacological recommendations to assist LTCH manage care for residents. We work to find out why a behaviour is happening and then coach and model resident-centred strategies to staff members to help reduce behaviours and increase residents’ quality of life. We also provide support and guidance for residents and families.

BPGs selected for implementation: 
•    Assessment and management of pain 
•    Delirium, dementia, and depression in older adults: Assessment and care
•    Person-and-family-centred care

LTC-BPSO liaison: Tamara Johnson, Director of Community Support Services, St. Joseph’s Villa

Overall Goal for LTC-BPSO: Our overall goal is to continuously improve the process of knowledge to practise and the quality of life of our residents. We also want to help address under-diagnosed and under-treated pain, a chronic situation in the LTC sector, because responsive behaviours stem from some of these conditions.

UniversalCare Canada Inc logo

UniversalCare MacKenzie Health

About: UniversalCare Mackenzie Health Long Term Care (MHLTC) is a 170 bed non-profit home located in Richmond Hill, Ontario. The home has been managed by UniversalCare Canada Inc. since 2010 and is accredited by Accreditation Canada. 

Number of residents: 170   

Number of staff: 187

Special features: MHLTC has on average 15 residents per month receiving palliative care, it manages a hemodialysis unit with a capacity for 20 residents and also averages 18 residents per month with enternal feeds. In 2015 a fulltime Nurse Practitioner/ Director of Clinical Services was hired to enhance quality of care. This position proves itself to be preventative and progressive, assuring assessments and treatments are accessible to residents in a timely way, therefore avoiding unnecessary transfers and admissions to hospital. The home also has an Administrative Director of Care who is an RN and a fulltime social worker. 

BPGs selected for implementation: 
•    A palliative approach to care in the last 12 months of life
•    Assessment and management of pain 
•    End-of-life care during the last days and hours 

LTC-BPSO Liaison: Clara Nisan RN (EC), BScN, MN, NP-PHC, GNC(C), RAI(C) 

LTC-BPSO Co-Liaison: Jennifer Foster MSW, RSW

Overall goal for LTC-BPSO: MHLTC is looking to further enhancing the quality of services provided to the residents through the implementation of evidence-based practices. We are dedicated to achieving success and positive outcomes through the LTC-BPSO program. MHLTC is committed to collecting and submitting data through the pre-designation period, and beyond. The monitoring and evaluation of this data will further support the positive outcomes of the implementation and sustainability of evidence-based practices and quality resident care. 

Nithview Home – Tri-County Mennonite Homes

About:  Nithview Home in New Hamburg, Waterloo is a long term care home within the Nithview Community which provides accommodation and services in Independent Living, Retirement living, and Long-Term Care.  Here residents live life to the fullest in a dynamic residential setting. 

Number of residents: 97

Nithview Community logo

Number of staff:  150

BPGs selected for implementation: 
•    Person-and-family-centred care
•    Preventing falls and reducing injury from falls 
•    Preventing and addressing abuse and neglect of older adults

LTC-BPSO liaison: Lisa Reid RN, BSc., Assistant Director of Care / Quality Lead

Overall Goal for LTC-BPSO:  Nithview Home aims to implement and sustain best practice guidelines within the organization in order to provide current and comprehensive resident and family centered care.  The goal is to establish a resident and family centered community where staff provide holistic evidence-based interventions addressing the physical, spiritual, social, and emotional needs of residents and their families.