b'QUALITY & INNOVATION AWARDS 2019Photo courtesy of Chartwell WestmountResident-Centred Home of the Year Life stories matter at Chartwell WestmountN o one element makesis informed by whether or not it willChartwell Westmounts collaboration Chartwell Westmount a benefit them. with its residents has led to several role model for resident- impactful initiatives. In 2019, centred care. Rather, its the teamsIndeed, giving residents a voice isWestmount launched a life stories genuine approach to ensuring that fundamental in resident-centred care.initiative in which stories were posted its residents needs, preferences, To that end, Chartwell Westmount isat every residents room highlighting and personalities are reflected in its home to resident-led committees thattheir family life, careers, passions,day-to-day operations. contribute ideas for programming,and successes.We really take the resident-centredmeal plans, and caregiving strategies.The home also adopted Chartwells care model to heart, says DawnaTheir work is guided in part by thenew Imagine Living Life to Your Courtney, Administrator withOntario Association of ResidentsPotential program, a dementia care Chartwell Westmount Long TermCouncils Through our Eyesstrategy that encourages employees Care. We involve our residents in theprogram, which provides strategiesto get to know more about residents decision-making process whereverand insights for engaging residents ofand be able to provide meaningful possible, and every choice we makeall ages and abilities.and purposeful activities that meet their needs. Through this program, staff develop leadership skills, learn A unique honour more about dementia, and discover ways to build more meaningful The Resident-Centred Home of the Year is a unique honour amongrelationships with residents and their OLTCAs Quality and Innovation awards. Only long-term care families, Courtney explains, noting 30 residents are eligible to nominate a home, and the final selection isstaff have already been through the made by the Board members of the Ontario Association of Residentsprogram with another 20 set to take it Councils (OARC), who are themselves long-term care residents. Inin the year ahead.his speech at the 2019 Ontario Long Term Care Association awardsA highlight of this training in action ceremony, OARC Board Member David Kent praised the recordoccurred last year when one of the number of applicants and noted the high quality of the entries andteams caregivers realized one of the the programs that they are putting in place across the province. residents had been a postmaster for 30 years. She contacted Canada Post 12 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Spring/Summer 2020'