b'PARTNERS IN CAREincluding developing a deeper appreciation for the different needs of long-term care residents.The hospital compiled a list of staff willing to work in long-term care homes in an outbreak if needed. This foresight and commitment to supporting the community meant peopleCare was able to find a registered nurse to work alongside our team during a tough outbreak. This one clinical resource allowed us to honour our ill residents wishes and continue to meet their increased care needs in the comfort of their own home, says Jenn Killing, Vice President Quality, Research and Strategic Partnerships at peopleCare. It was exactly what we needed, at exactly the right time.With the focus on creating new models of interconnected care, such as Ontario Health Teams, in the pastWith the motto "No One Left Behind," peopleCare Chairman and CEO Brent Gingerich decade, healthcare organizationssourced and delivered PPE to peopleCare homes and others in Ontarioof all types are gaining a better understanding of one anothers role as system partners. There is alsosafely bringing families back intoNo wrong turnsmore appreciation of how workinglong-term care homes. They alsoIt has been said that creativity is the as a system benefits everyone in theprovided feedback on our Familyantidote to an unhealthy response community by providing the right careSurvey, which informed our plansto a crisis. As peopleCares frontline at the right time by the right provider. for safe, socially distanced visits andteams were going all out to care improved communication and gavefor residents, with an outpouring of The bottom line: every long-term careus an opportunity to connect with anysupport from families and community home should consider making the firstfamily wanting more engagement (including donating essential PPE and move to connect with all of their localand support.supplies), our leaders were reaching to health system partners before a crisisthe four winds looking to be inspired makes it necessary. At the end of theA flourishing partnership enabledby new opportunities and team-ups. day, were all working hard to meetpeopleCares work as an early adopter the needs of aging seniors in ourof OCOs Partners in Care toolkitLeading alongside other innovators community; thats our shared goal,(see more at ontariocaregiver.ca/ and government is always a priority says Killing. partnersincare and peoplecare.ca).for peopleCare, and never more so We have been pleased to be part ofthan during a pandemic. We were Friend-raisingthe learning collaborative establishedpleased to pilot rapid tests and help Establishing meaningful relationshipsby OCO that includes members fromshape future testing solutions. We with organizations like Family Councilslong-term care, hospitals, Ontarioconnected with universities trialling Ontario (FCO), the Ontario AssociationHealth Teams and provincial partners. early COVID interventions. We even of Residents Councils and the Ontariopartnered with Canadas National Caregiver Organization (OCO) hasAmy Coupal is CEO of the OCO. SheBallet School to pilot and evaluate been essential in peopleCares abilitysays the collaborative has emergedvirtual creative movement classes, co-to quickly bring new resources intoas a hub of cross-sector learningdesigned with Baycrest, for residents our homes this past year. for family caregiver engagement to enjoy while socially distanced.both during COVID and for the long For peopleCare, the value oftermwhich speaks to the valueWith so much confusion and partnering with families is the mutualparticipants find in sharing barriersanxiety in the early days of COVID, trust and dedication it developsand lessons learned. Theres magic inpeopleCare reached out to Doctors toward keeping the well-being ofpeer-to-peer learning, Coupal says.Without Borders (DWB), to leverage residents at the heart of all we doIts reassuring to see it is possibletheir expertise as international leaders and the decisions we make together.to meaningfully and safely engagein infection control, to protect our We talked with FCO early on aboutcaregivers during a pandemic. staff and residents.www.oltca.com LONG TERM CARE TODAY 35'