www.oltca.com LONG TERM CARE TODAY 37 DIVERSITY The Ontario Centres for Learning, Research & Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI) develop and identify resources to help homes with their efforts to support diversity. Visit clri-ltc.ca/diversity. information sessions with members of the LGBTQ+ community. Looking at the home’s progress to date, Lawrence says the journey has been transformative for both residents and staff – including Lawrence himself, who came out officially to his team and residents. “I realized that if I wasn’t comfortable sharing that, how could I expect our residents to be? It was a bit nerve-wracking, but the response was positive and I’m glad I did it.” Winston Park continues to work with their LGBTQ+ community partners on activities within the home. “People are responding positively and the messages are being heard. We hope to be hanging those rainbow flags by summer,” says Lawrence, adding, “It’s not that we’ve never focused on these issues before, but now we’re all a bit more aware and equipped to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome when they come to stay with us.” When asked for advice for other homes on the same journey, Lawrence says it’s important to take it slow, avoid overwhelming residents and staff, and understand that it is a work in progress. “You don’t know who is going to walk through those doors to work here or live here. Our population changes all the time, so there will never be a point where we can say for certain that we’ve done our job. All we can do is keep working to foster a diverse community, be aware of our culture, and take action when issues come up.” LTCT “The Prescription For AllYour Long-Term Care Needs” Electronic Health Records Integration│Paperless Digital Drug Record Book │Digital Pen Technology Advanced Multi-Dose Packaging & Verification│Comprehensive Consultant Services│Unparalleled QA Systems for more information visit www.geriatrx.com or call 1.877.421.7755