Person-directed care is not just a new buzzword in long-term care.
It stems from the world-wide realisation that care facilities for elders are not hospitals and that the management of the medical conditions related to ageing is not enough to promote the well-being of residents.
As the medical model has been followed for so long, a culture change is required to make care facilities a better place for elders.
Such a culture change requires new ways of thinking about long-term care, new values, new attitudes and new ways of doing things in order to move from institution to warm, loving and caring home.
Eleven staff members from the Rand Aid Association participated in a two-day coaching workshop by international Eden educator and mentor Ms Carol Ende.
Ms Ende is a former CEO of the Eden Alternative in America and currently works across the globe as a consultant and educator for culture change associated with elder-hood.
The workshop was arranged by Eden South Africa and targeted local leaders committed to implementing person-directed care in South Africa. Three workshops were held, in the Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The Gauteng workshop took place on April 19 and 20 at the Inyoni Creek Clubhouse.
The workshop focused on teaching new skills and techniques to build relationships between staff and residents. It also focused on promoting team work between all care partners and to create a sense of community in the care centres.
“Ms Ende emphasised that the transformation towards person-directed care is not a programme; it is an ongoing journey that requires conscious leadership ensuring all care partners become, and remain, involved and committed towards creating a better life for our elders,” said Rand Aid’s Ms Zabeth Zühlsdorff.
Ms Helen Petrie, the manager of the Elphin Complex, which includes the Ron Smith Care Centre, said the workshop made the leadership role required of her as a team leader easy to understand.
“The logic required to lead culture change in our home was explained to us so clearly, so we are all better armed for the task ahead,” she said.
