b'TRANSITIONEasing the transitionfrom home to long-term careA new program familiarizes residents before they move inM oving into long-term care can be an extraordinarilysent a letter, offering them an opportunity to come for stressful time for new residents, particularly ifcoffee, meals, and programs, and to chat with staff. they have dementia. Its also a high-risk time for escalated responsive behaviours, as the person can beCaregivers have a lot of questions about dementia, about confused and even frightened in their new surroundings,how to handle challenges theyre having at home, and while staff are not yet familiar with how to help them.about what will happen in long-term care, says Dager. Their family doctor or home care staff may not have the It doesnt have to be this way, says Mark Dager, Actingspecialized knowledge or the time to help, and they need Director and Lead of Woodingford Lodges new Familythat support. Transition Program. We need to look at it from their point of view, he says. Many people with dementia have beenWhile these conversations can take place with any staff living a quiet life at home with a spouse or adult childrenthey meet within the program, a social worker who is taking care of their needs. When they are finally admittedpart of the program will also help them to connect with to long-term care, from their perspective they are suddenlyservices they need and navigate the system. Sometimes deprived of the regular presence of one or two peoplecaregivers have been isolated and struggling to cope, and who have been the centre of their world, and are thrustthe Family Transition Program is a lifeline that can help to into an unfamiliar communal setting. prevent a crisis situation for both the person with dementia and their caregiver.The Family Transition Program was designed to help people on the long-term care wait list and their caregiversThe majority of the participants in the program at the become accustomed to a long-term care environmentmoment are older couples. While some can only come before they move in. People on the regional wait list areby once a month, others visit several times a week for a Address:23814 Den eld Road NATIONAL INTERESTDen eld ON, N0M 1P0 In August, the Family Transition ProgramBarker Blagrave & Associates is now Urbshott Faulds DieteticsContact: Professional Corporation! Julie Urbshott was accepted to be a part of the 2019-20Owned by Julie Urbshott and Sarah Faulds, Urbshott FauldsEmail: Julie@urbfaulds.caprestigious SPARK mentorship program Dietetics proudly embody BB&As mission and values of beingPhone: 226-927-7029skilled, honest, and supportive dietitian service providers and is receiving support from the Mental We specialize in clinical nutrition care, care team support, quality assurance systems and administrative and educational toolSarah Faulds Health Coalition of Canada. The program development on a contractual or temporary basis Email: Sarah@urbfaulds.ca is receiving mentorship for one yearQuality work at competitive rates includes direct dietitian servicesPhone: 519-550-3369 to LTC Homes as well as our value-added supports from renowned researchers to help themQuotes are available on request for any of our service packages Website: enhance the project on a national level. Visit www.urbshottfaulds.com for more information www.urbshottfaulds.com36 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Fall/Winter 2019952615_Urbshott.indd 1 6/20/19 1:46 PM'