Over 350 in attendance at the 4th Annual PSNO Provincial Conference!

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1 Volume 4, Issue 3 February 2011 Inside this issue: Steering Committees Formed How To Get Your Copy of the Celebrating Caregiving Booklet PSW Survey now Available Online PSNO PSW Supervisor Conference 4th Annual PSNO Provincial PSW Con- Marlene Magashazi 2010 PSW of the Year Special Surprise Recognition Awarded at PSNO Conference Scholarship Winner Announced PSW of the Year Finalists Sean Kenne- BP Blogger: Myth Busting: Wound Issue Over 350 in attendance at the 4th Annual PSNO Provincial Conference! On Monday October 18th, 350 delegates gathered for the 4th Annual PSNO Provincial PSW Conference. The event was a huge success attracting PSWs and PSW Supervisors from all across Ontario and all sectors within the field. The annual conference provided a great opportunity for delegates to connect and network with other PSWs, Attendant Care Workers, Homemakers Supervisors and senior leaders. PSNO Ambassador Program Launched PSNO is excited to announce the launch of the Ambassador program. The PSNO Ambassador program provides leadership opportunities for our PSW members who wish to become more involved and support our marketing and outreach efforts. PSNO Ambassadors deliver presentations to schools and organizations, promoting PSW as a profession and And of course, the Provincial Conference would not be complete without our awards ceremony! You can read more about the winners on pages 4 & 5 of this edition of PSW News. We had a fantastic time at the Conference and hope all those who attended did too. Pictures will soon be now available on our website! the benefits of membership with PSNO on a local level. We currently have 4 talented and enthusiastic Ambassadors, Alexandra Stadler, Derrick Harrison, Bonnie Stegemann, Maureen Hylton and Sonya Hartviksen. Interested in becoming one? Contact Mitzy at membership@psno.ca for more details on how to get involved.

2 PSW Steering Committees Formed Visit for more details On August 4, 2010 PSNO hosted a roundtable discussion to speak to stakeholders about the future direction of the profession. Attendees included PSW program trainers, representatives from special interest groups, LTC and community care leaders, Personal Support Workers and PSNO staff and supporters. The agenda included a discussion of PSW training accreditation and certification of PSWs. This meeting was the first step in taking action to further the personal support profession. As a result of this meeting, PSNO has organized Steering Committees in the two areas of focus: Accreditation of PSW Training and the Certification of PSWs. We feel very optimistic with all the support we have received from those who attended the meeting and are very thankful to for expertise and input during both the discussion and implementation process. We will be keeping our members updated on the latest news and the strides we are making. This is a very exciting time for the personal support profession. Want to volunteer on a committee? Please contact us at ext. 255 How To Get Your Copy of the Celebrating Caregiving Booklet PSNO recently collected and published a booklet of personal stories of how you are make a difference in the lives of the people you care for. Celebrating Caregiving feature stories, pictures, poems, letters and artwork highlighting the impact PSWs have on their clients and the health care system. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share these stories with you. Copies of the booklet Celebrating Caregiving are now available for purchase through the PSNO offices. For more information, please Contact Mitzy Paz at or ext. 255 Mitzy.Paz@psno.ca ~~~~~ Missed your chance to submit for the booklet? We are already collecting submissions for a follow up booklet. Please send your submissions to Joni Serio at joni.serio@psno.ca PSW Survey Now Available Online PSNO is currently conducting a survey of all PSWs. We would like to collect information on the latest trends in personal support to make sure that we are on the right track with our advocacy efforts and to make sure that we are adequately representing your needs. please visit: s/psnosurvey Or if you would prefer a paper copy, contact membership at ext. 255 to have one sent to you. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard and make sure that we are pushing for the change you want to see in personal support field. Page 2

3 PSNO PSW Supervisor Conference Legal Obligations vs. Ethical Decision Making When Reporting Abuse On September 20, 2010 PSNO held it s 3rd Annual PSW Supervisor Conference. Over 100 PSW Supervisor gathered for this day long conference themed Strengthening Leadership. Highlights from the event included breakout workshops including: Legal Obligations vs. Ethical Decision Making When Reporting Abuse Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: Diversity and Cultural Competencies Supporting Your Staff Through Greif and Loss Supervisor 101: 10 Tricks to Help Ease Your Day Why Teaching Your Staff Proper Documentation Matters: Case Studies and Discussion Session New Emerging Leadership Roles for PSWs in Long Term Care and in the Community Client Coordination: Help for the Unsung Hero The day began with an opening plenary from Diane Martin, the Executive Director of the RPNOA on Today s Health care Teams: Building Excellence. The day finished with Best Practices in Hospice Palliative Care: What Everyone Involved in Personal Support Should Know from Rick Firth, Executive Director of the Hospice. Many thanks to Diane, Rick and all our presenters! The 4th Annual PSNO Provincial Conference, Another Great Success! The opening plenary, Healthcare System Improvement Priorities and a Role for PSWs was delivered by Paula Blackstein-Hirsch, Executive Director from the Centre for Healthcare Quality Improvement. Conference delegates then attended professional development workshops presented by experts from across the province. Workshops, included: Hope for the Aging Back: Maximizing Functionality While Minimizing Risk Chair Yoga Decreasing Frustration When Dealing with Dementia Clients PSWs Improving Continence in Long Term Care The 5 W s and the How of Documentation Page 3

4 I enjoyed being with so many people who share my passion for caring for others The 4th Annual PSNO Provincial Conference, Continued Understanding Mental Health Issues: Delirium/ Late Onset Schizophrenia Legal Obligations vs. Ethical Decision Making When Reporting Abuse PSW Role in Wound Care Understanding Mental Health Issues: Depression And many more! New at this year s Conference, we provided delegates with a certificate of participation, Marlene Magashazi 2010 PSW of the Year which tracks sessions attended and provides our delegates with the opportunity to build their professional development portfolio. The highlight of the day was the PSW of the year presentation. It s great to see recognition of frontline workers Marlene was nominated by her co-worker at Woodingford Lodge, Tanya Bultje. Tanya told us about a warm and caring individual she met on her first day on the job, 8 years ago. Marlene consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty and it shows in the gleam of happiness in the eyes of the residents under her care. Marlene performs her role as PSW with dedication, professionalism and most importantly, compassion and love. Marlene s passion for her career and those she cares for extends beyond Woodingford Lodge. Marlene is founding member of the group Angels for Haiti. She founded this initiative in PSWs involved travelled with Angels for Hati to Port-au- Prince Haiti to participate in humanitarian aide efforts. After the catastrophic earthquake, Marlene traded all of her available vacation hours to travel to the distraught and ravaged country to provide as much aid and assistance as they could muster. Along with the Angels of Haiti, Marlene and the group arrived within the first 6 days after the quake, being some of the very first Canadians to arrive. While there, Marlene performed her duties as a PSW and helped with severe trauma and disaster relief. Marlene was able to travel with the members of Angels for Haiti two more times, and each time providing more and more relief medical care, including assisting in surgery, dentistry and post-op neurosurgical care at one of the local hospitals. Because of her dedication to caring for her residents at home and her commitment to helping those abroad, we are thrilled to present Marlene Magashazi as the 2010 PSW of the Year Award. Page 4

5 Special Surprise Recognition Awarded at PSNO Conference While collecting nominations for PSW of the Year Award, we received an unconventional nomination from Geri Smith, a PSW with the Canadian Red Cross. She told us about her supervisor, Patti Wichers- Schreur and the important leadership role she plays every day. Geri told us about a woman who motivates and encourages her staff. Patti stands behind her team and treats everyone as equal. Because of Geri s submission, PSNO is happy to announce that next year we will be collecting nominations for the first ever Scholarship Winner Announced Jessica Hahn PSW Supervisor of the Year award to recognize excellence in the field, because great leadership is vital to a great team and care for clients, residents and consumers. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to recognize Patti for her outstanding contributions to the personal support profession and for her leadership and dedication to her staff. And thank you to Geri for showing us the importance of great leadership. Every year, PSNO, OCSA and Saint Elizabeth Health Care collect applications for the PSW Professional Development Scholarship, which is designed to support PSWs looking to advance their education in health care. This year s recipient is Jessica Hahn, a PSW currently working with the Multi Service Centre and Woodingford Lodge in Tilsonburg, ON. Her submission showed us a hard working individual who is dedicated to her clients and has gone back to school so that she can provide even more for them. Congratulations to Jessica and best of luck in your education and future goals. PSW of the Year Finalists Sean Kennedy & Lilian Coreas Sean Kenney was nominated by his colleague, Cris Fell of Hogarth Riverview Manor, a long term care facility in Thunder Bay. Cris told us all about Sean and his commitment to the residents of Willow Grove. He has developed a keen understanding for his clients with dementia and sits on the Dementia Network s selection committee. Lilian Coreas was nominated by her program director, Odete Nascimento from St. Christopher House in Toronto, where Lilian has been working the past 11 years. The was selection committee was impressed by her commitment to her clients. Lilian has been a forerunner in liaising with the building management, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), to ensure that clients with bed bugs have necessary supports. Page 5

6 Mary-Lou van der Horst is currently working with the Regional Geriatric Programs of Ontario- Central area as a Geriatric Nursing / Knowledge Translation Consultant and the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy for Long- Term care as Project Manager / LTC Nursing Consultant. Previously, she was the Regional Best Practice Coordinator in Long- Term Care for Central South Ontario with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term care assisting the longterm care sector to implement evidencebased / best practices care improvements. BP Blogger: Myth Busting: Communication Issue Myth 1: Aphasia is like dementia Aphasia is an acquired language disorder due to damage from stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, or neurological disease such as dementia and usually affects the left side language areas of the brain. Depending on the area and extent of brain damage, a resident suffering from aphasia may be able to speak but not write, or show any of a wide variety of language deficiencies such as the inability or impaired ability to: Understand language: Pronounce or form words Speak spontaneously Produce grammatically correct sentences Name objects Repeat a phrase Read Write Or the following: Persistent repetition of words or phrases Creation of nonwords Substitute letters, syllables or words, and/or Difficulty speaking with accurate inflexion, stress and rhythm Residents with aphasia are often treated as through they are cognitively impaired. Competence can usually be assumed which means staff continue to communicate with the resident and provide care in a respectful and dignified way. Myth 2: Access is about physical barriers There are many potential communication barriers for residents with aphasia each will have unique communicative access needs, which will often require accommodations or facilitators to reduce these communication barriers. It is important to ensure that information is presented in an easy-tounderstand way, and that residents with aphasia are able to participate fully in making day -to-day decisions that affect them. Research indicates that those with communication difficulties often do not enjoy equal access to health care services such as their day-to-day care choices and decisions, even though it is a legal requirement under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Myth 3: Aphasia means having no thoughts or feelings People with aphasia often experience isolation, sadness, loneliness and depression because their inability to communicate prevents them from truly engaging with people. Aphasia can interfere with social activities or communicating decisions about whether they want to participate in leisure or recreational activities. Often, attempts to communicate may be mistakenly seen as responsive behaviours such as agitation or aggression. In fact, they may be fearful and frustrated with being misunderstood. Aphasia often affects multiple aspects of Page 6

7 Continued: BP Blogger: Myth Busting: Communication Communication and can be so severe as to make communication with the resident almost impossible, without the use of specialized communication strategies. AN IMPORTANT APHASIA- FRIENDLY LTC TOOL: The Aphasia Institue has designed a pictographic version of the Ontario Resident s Bill of Rights. This important poster was created to help ensure that all LTC residents know and understand their rights. Myth 4: Residents with aphasia can t communicate There are effective ways to reduce language barriers and increase communicative access for residents with aphasia. In Ontario, the Aphasia Institute has developed a set of techniques called Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia (SCA ). It allows people with communication barriers to engage in meaningful conversation, improving their quality of life. Online Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia education sessions are available to Ontario LTC homes. Contact communicative.access@shrtn.on.ca for more information. For more information on this and other best practices from the BP Blogger contact: Your Regional Best Practices Coordinator Seniors Health Research Network Hamilton Long Term Care Resource Centre Or you can find the original blog in the Members Only section of the PSNO website: Remember! Residents with aphasia know more than they can say!!! Tell the resident I know you know Page 7

8 Find Us on the Web PSNO Website: PSW Forum: Facebook: search Personal Support Network of Ontario while on and you will find our group and fan page Twitter: Flickr: If you moonlight and provide PSW services to clients outside of your regular employment, you may not have liability coverage. PSNO has the Solution with our insurance program. Please call Natasha at or toll free at Do we have your address? If we do not have your address or your current address you are missing out on important news and opportunities through our listserv! To update your address please