The County of Renfrew is working with Meaningful Care Matters, an organization from the United Kingdom that specializes in supporting long term care homes to create environments that support people living with dementia using a “person-centred” approach. What does “person-centred” mean? It means doing more than just making sure peoples’ bodies are safe and nourished. It means connecting with the person on an emotional level, which can be a powerful way to reach a person with dementia who can struggle with logic and memory. It means making their home truly feel like home, a place where family, friends, staff and volunteers can also feel at home with the people who call it “home”. To be person-centred, it is important to know about, and connect on a personal level. What is important to them now and in their past? What makes them feel valued? By knowing this, we can make their space and experience feel more like home. The transition will include significant environmental changes such as smaller more home-like ‘neighbourhoods’ versus units. This would mean for example converting a dementia unit where currently 20 residents reside into two (2) smaller neighbourhoods of 10 and 10 residents. Other environmental changes will include redesigning the dementia units to be more welcoming and intimate, and filling the household with the ‘stuff of life’ so that residents can connect with a variety of colours, textures and objects that reflect their past lives, work and hobbies.
Person-centred care has been shown to improve the well-being of individuals, less falls, less pain, reduced use of anti-psychotic medication, less unintended weight loss and other positive outcomes. In addition, staff sick time has been seen to decrease as staff are empowered to be less focused on tasks and more on the people living in the home.
The County of Renfrew is dedicated to carefully evaluating the project over the year-long journey, and sharing our experience with other care providers, the public, and the provincial government. Fundraising has already begun for adopting the model received through donations, and funds raised at galas hosted at the Homes earlier this year, and will be ongoing to assist with the costs to transition Bonnechere Manor and Miramichi Lodge dementia units to the Butterfly Model.
Dementia is a group of diseases including Alzheimer’s that cause gradual decline in logic, the ability to interpret the world and communication. Responsive behaviours, including aggression, repetitive motions and calling out, may result if a person’s needs go unmet.
Contact Us
