PEMBROKE — Bonnechere Manor has been recognized as a leader in the Behaviour Support of Ontario (BSO) program implementation.
The BSO Champions, Chantel McDonald, Registered Practical Nurse and Katie O’Connor, Personal Support Worker, were invited to present the Bonnechere Manor model at the Perley & Rideau Veteran’s Health Centre in Ottawa recently as part of a forum called Knowledge College: The 3 DDD’s (Depression, Delirium and Dementia). The audience included healthcare professionals representing both leadership and BSO roles across long-term care homes within the Champlain Local Health Integration Network. Ms. McDonald and Ms. O’Connor were then invited to present an overview of the Bonnechere Manor BSO Program to the Health Committee at its recent October meeting.
The purpose of the BSO Program is to:
Ensure quality of life is maintained with identifying maximum functioning capabilities
Identify and address responsive behaviours and prevent escalation using an interdisciplinary team approach;
Meet the needs of the person with dementia using a holistic approach; and
Utilize the services of the Geriatric Mental Health (GMH) outreach team as required
Responsive behaviours are a means of communication for those with difficulty expressing thoughts, feelings and needs and could be a reaction to stimuli that triggers the “fight or flight” response in a person with dementia.
These reactions could be associated with social, emotional, or physical environment which may cause frustration, fear, confusion or unmet needs. Ms. McDonald and O’Conner have participated in specialized BSO training allowing them to lead meetings with frontline staff to gather / share information on residents exhibiting responsive behaviours and recommend non-pharmalogical methods / interventions to decrease these behaviours.
The two professionals emphasized the importance of the family “being an active member of the team, especially with respect to understanding how a resident’s past history could be impacting their behaviours now”. Success has been measured in many ways, not the least of which is a reduction in use of medications.
A Bonnechere Manor Environmental Steering Committee, comprised of representatives from Recreation, Maintenance, Nursing, Dietary and Management as well as financial assistance from the Bonnechere Manor Foundation, created four themed rooms on the dementia units which facilitate a quiet familiar area for residents.
The “Ear” reminds staff and visitors when things are getting a bit too noisy on the units – a common trigger for behaviours in residents with dementia:
Music therapy, in the form of IPods and headphones, has had a huge success rate for some residents; serving as a distraction from environmental stimuli. Staff provided an example where a resident that would constantly repeat words and make noises which would trigger other residents – after trying an iPod for the first time, this resident immediately stopped chanting and appeared relaxed. In addition, the Home has a “Snoezelan Room” which also assists in calming residents.
Renfrew County Warden Jennifer Murphy said, “It’s through staff’s creative approach and ongoing educational opportunities that contributes to best practices in resident care at our long-term care homes.”
Bonnechere Manor is a 180 bed municipal (not-for-profit) long-term care home. It is owned and operated by the County of Renfrew and City of Pembroke and has provided quality care to the frail and elderly since 1958. A wide-range of long-term programs and services including 24 hour nursing care, accommodation, meals, as well as physiotherapy programs and a variety of social and recreational activities. In addition to long-term care services, the Manor also offers a variety of community services such as respite care, an adult day program in Cobden and Renfrew, and a Parkinson’s support group. Bonnechere Manor holds Accreditation with Accreditation Canada which provides the Home with the opportunity to benchmark their programs and services to national standards and assists in continuous quality improvements.
