The E-Learning modules are now on-line in both French and English at www.u-first.ca. This 8 module program is also available on a CD-ROM, available for $25 from the Ontario Community Support Association at the u-first web site.
The Guide is now complete. The introductory booklet is printed and available from the NSMCCAC and the Alzheimer Societies in Simcoe County.
Me & U-First!
A project to enhance and sustain P.I.E.C.E.S and U-First!
"Me & U-First!" was developed as a communication/care planning tool available to people with dementia and their Partners in Care.
This Care Planning Guide and e-Learning Modules were developed in response to a survey of health care professionals in Simcoe County who expressed a need for more information on dementia and specialized care. The content for the e-learning modules was developed by a core team from the Simcoe County Dementia Network. The technology was provided by Y-Communicate, an e-technology partner with Georgian College.
This education initiative is sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and funded through Staff Education and Training, Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias.
The Simcoe County Community Care Access Centre (now the NSMCCAC)generously provided office space and technical support to this project.
Goal Statement
Using U-First! every Person with dementia will have an improved quality of life as a result of increased understanding and improved communications between Partners in Care.
Focus of Me & U-First!
The focus is on the importance of building an Understanding of the Person with dementia. With greater understanding comes the opportunity to Flag changes, enhance interactions, effectively Interact with the larger Team and offer better Support
This is accomplished with the help of Mimi and Joe, two special animated characters who have dementia. They represent the “Me” in “Me U-First!”.
Key Components of this Two Part Program
The two components of this initiative:
• support and sustain the P.I.E.C.E.S. and U-First! initiatives.
• A comprehensive resource and support for front line care providers
• Assists with problem solving (i.e. providing a format for analysing behaviours in a client with dementia)
• Increases confidence of PSWs in the community in dealing with people with dementia
• Supports communication between partners in care by providing a common language
• Increases understanding and knowledge base for all partners in care
Me & U-First!
• Developed in response to feedback from Personal Support Workers’ discussion groups conducted by the Simcoe County Dementia Network (SCDN)
• Designed to address the need for more dementia specific education and ongoing support in providing care to Persons with dementia
• Includes two main components, both designed to build on and sustain the P.I.E.C.E.S. and U-First! initiatives:
1)“They say I have dementia…….
some days I believe it.”
My Guide for Living with Dementia
2) “Me and U-First! Understand me, a Person with dementia.”
Eight module e-learning series for front-line care providers
-web based e-learning modules “an innovative, individualized learning tool for providers in dementia care”
- Learners will be able to access modules on their own schedule, and learn at their own pace. This results in greater potential for reaching a larger number of front-line care providers on an ongoing basis.
Acknowledgements
The “Me & U-First!” initiative is supported by:
• sustainability funding from the Staff Education and Training Steering Committee of the Post Alzheimer Strategy, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.
• Community Care Access Centre Simcoe County who provided administrative and technical support.
• the P.I.E.C.E.S.TM team.
• U-First!
• The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) who will host and maintain the e-learning program.
The E-Leaning modules are available provincially on-line at the OCSA website www.u-first.ca
The guide will be available in Simcoe County in 2007 at www.dementianetworksc.org
Key Project Contributors:
Chris Lee-Bun, Co-Chair SCDN and Case Manager CCACSC
Debbie Islam, Co-Chair SCDN and Executive Director Alzheimer Society of Greater Simcoe County
Maureen O’Connell, PRC, Simcoe County
Valerie Powell, PRC, Simcoe County
Laura-Lynn Bourassa, PEC, Alzheimer Society of Greater Simcoe County
Mary Perry-White, PEC, Alzheimer Society of Greater Simcoe County
Susan Nagy, PEC, Alzheimer Society of Orillia & District
Lisa Markov, Case Manager, NSMCCAC
Dr. Carola Elkhuizen, Interim Project Lead
Marilyn Clark & Sue Whalen, Administrative Assistants
For more information about the e-modules contact: Maureen at oconnellm@cgmh.on.ca Valerie at powellv@cgmh.on.ca
Brochure
Research that initiated the Me & U-First! Project
REPORT by the Education Task Group
The Simcoe County Dementia Network began in 2002 as a result of the Ontario government’s investment of funds in the Alzheimer Strategy. A transitional Steering Committee was established to focus on the development of terms of reference and a logic model that would guide their work. Network forums helped to identify the key issues that needed to be addressed with respect to dementia care within Simcoe County. These issues formed the process objectives within our logic model (Appendix A).
In May of 2003, forum participants were asked to identify the three most important issues related to dementia care in our County, one of which was educational standards. As a result, a task group focused on this was formed and began meeting in September 2003. Membership included representatives of long-term care, community agencies, acute care, mental health services, Alzheimer Society chapters, the Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant service, Georgian College, the Orillia Learning Centre and a consumer advocate (Appendix E). This group began reviewing educational programs and resources related to dementia-specific training. During this process the task group became aware of a similar initiative undertaken by the Dementia Network of Ottawa. The task group reviewed the Ottawa draft position paper and recognized that it reflected what we hoped to achieve as well. We concurred with the research they had done to date and felt that we could complement their efforts by shifting our focus. To this end we established a link with the Ottawa Network to show our support of their position paper and a desire to collaborate with them.
The task group determined the next step should be to gather feedback from Personal Support Workers (PSW) employed both in the community and long term care facilities within Simcoe County. We felt that this feedback was needed to lend support to any recommendations that would be made by our group.
We also saw this as an opportunity to complement the work that was being done by the Ottawa Network. In April and May 2004 six discussion groups were held in Simcoe County with PSWs from a variety of agencies. The summary of those sessions, the group demographics and the recommendations that resulted are captured in Appendices B, C and D.
We acknowledge and appreciate the time and effort that these enthusiastic groups contributed.
Recommendations for the future:
We recommend that
• this report be distributed to all of our participants’ employers as well as to all long term care facilities and community agencies in our area.
• the Simcoe County Dementia Network advocate for implementation of these recommendations at a local level.
• the Simcoe County Dementia Network support and participate in the provincial forum proposed by the Ottawa Network in order to further our recommendations provincially.
• the Education/Training Standards Task Group further pursue its objective: the establishment of standards for dementia training and education for formal caregivers in all sectors.
Task Group on Education/Training Standards
Co-Chairs: Mary Lamb and Debbie Fleming
(Logic model and appendices are attached below)
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