New way of doing things for care centre managers

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 wellbeing 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 to be – to turn them into homes where elders want to be, families enjoy visiting and staff enjoy doing the work they love. 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 of Rand Aid Association were fortunate to participate in a two-day coaching workshop by international Eden educator and mentor Carol Ende. Carol 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 elderhood.

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, 2016, at Rand Aid’s Inyoni Creek Clubhouse – a most appropriate physical setting in line with Eden values of warmth and comfort!

The workshop focused on teaching new skills and techniques to build relationships between staff and residents, to promote team work between all care partners and to create a sense of community in our care centres. It was practical and interactive, using examples from everyday working life to practise skills, solve problems and develop a better understanding of the needs and abilities of elders.

“Carol 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,” says Rand Aid’s Zabeth Zühlsdorff, GM Services and Advance Division.

Helen Petrie, the Manager of Elphin Complex, which includes the Ron Smith Care Centre, said that 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 that we are all better armed for the task ahead,” she said.

Sylvia Birkhead - senior occupational therapist at Rand Aid, Bianca Richards – occupational therapist at Rand Aid, Sr Tando Ncube - the charge sister on Lakeside at Ron Smith Care Centre, and Charlene van Zyl – ex-Rand Aid occupational therapist who joined the training while on a visit to South Africa.