Leisureworld promotes excellence in palliative care Several homes represented at education day   Friday April 9, 2010 -- Lisa Bailey Leisureworld’s work in palliative care was shared with more than 220 participants at an education day in Caledon March 31. Called Step by Step: Promoting Excellence in Palliative Care, the second annual event was presented by the Central West Palliative Care Network through the Central West Local Health Integration Network. Barb Heward, resident relations co-ordinator at Leisureworld Caregiving Centre Brampton Woods, says attendees represented all palliative care-related disciplines in hospitals, hospices, health organizations and retirement and long-term care homes, including several Leisureworld homes. Fifteen workshops examined topics ranging from the volunteer’s role to the use of poetry. “It was really a holistic view of palliation,” says Heward, who is a member of the care network and the subcommittee involved in planning the eight-hour day. Heward, who also facilitates the Brampton home’s in-house palliative care committee and co-chairs Leisureworld’s corporate committee, led more than 50 people in an interactive workshop on palliation in long-term care, specificially Leisureworld. For example, Heward says, she talked about “how the disciplines work together” to provide the best possible care and support for residents, family members and staff during the entire end-of-life journey. She cites an Out The Front Door philosophy at Brampton Woods where residents, who enter the home for the first time through the front door, also leave that way for the very last time, with a team member escorting them to a waiting vehicle. “It is showing respect and dignity to our residents and their family members,” Heward says, adding it’s important to let other residents know they will receive the same courtesy and concern from staff. Leisureworld also stands out in its efforts to engage and support residents’ family members and friends in the end-of-life experience, Heward says. “By allowing residents and family to talk about death and dying and what they can expect and how Leisureworld can support them during this journey, the more information people have, the less confusion there may be,” Heward says. “Family members can be family members, they can be a daughter or a husband or a wife and not a chauffeur and a cook and a chef, etc., so we can take care of all the day-to-day things and our families and our residents can spend their final time as part of a family, not a resident in a home.” Heward later opened the floor to questions and comments, with more similarities than differences at other long-term care homes brought up. Challenges were also explored, such as how to ensure that all religions and cultures are respected. Heward describes the day as “very positive and upbeat,” with so many people working hard to make changes in palliative care. Interest was so strong that a waiting list was generated. Leisureworld, Heward notes, was very well represented, providing a valuable networking opportunity among team members from different homes. “It shows we are communicating with all 26 of our homes what our corporate initiatives are.” If you have feedback on this article, please contact the newsroom at 800-295-0051, ext. 25, or e-mail lisa(at)axiomnews.ca.