Dove Project nearing full flight Training for families among final steps for Ellesmere's dementia-care initiative   Wednesday July 7, 2010 -- Lisa Bailey About a year after it began, the Dove Project is nearing completion at Leisureworld Caregiving Centre Ellesmere. Training for families to better support residents with dementia is one of the final pieces to the multidepartmental plan, which aims to reduce agitation for these residents and improve their quality of life through education and therapeutic programming. Program manager and project lead Dwayne Green says about 15 family members have registered thus far for the first training session, to be held July 14 at the Scarborough long-term care home. Coined I Remember, the ongoing sessions will focus on the Montessori approach to interaction and give insights into dementia so families may help their loved ones recapture moments and, with the assistance of the home’s activation staff, enjoy activities that stimulate conversation and interaction. This training complements educational sessions held for volunteers and students at the home. Green says the “most fulfilling” aspect of the project for him has been empowering trainees, particularly young co-operative education students, to be confident and comfortable in working with residents with dementia and applying the strategies they’ve learned to enrich residents’ lives. Green notes that the Dove Project piqued the interest of the local campus of a health-care career training school. The director toured the home and Green says the school is encouraging students to do placements there because the project’s educational component can help them in their future roles. Another piece of the Dove Project is revamping the dementia-care unit, where 32 residents with various forms of the condition live. It is no longer known as Unit 4A but Dove Lane, in keeping with the goal to have a name reflective of the peaceful, warmer, respectful and community-like environment taking shape. A sign is to be installed at the home to officially proclaim the new name and commemorate this shift in vocabulary. Dove Lane’s quiet/reminiscing room has also been redesigned to be more calming and serene. Features include a waterfall mural, CDs that play soothing sounds, and a 180-gallon tank containing koi and other fish. As well, a large cabinet contains sensory stimulation tools developed by activation assistant Sarah Goring based on residents’ life stories. Families can also access the cabinet to engage in meaningful activities with their loved ones. In keeping with Montessori principles, much of the programming is shorter in length and involves smaller groups of residents. Generally, Green says, agitation levels among residents with dementia have been greatly reduced and twice as much programming is now underway at Dove Lane. He credits Goring, activation staff and other team members with embracing the concept of providing life programming, which provides meaning to residents’ lives and therapeutic benefits. “It’s all about what the resident used to do, see, hear, speak, breathe and touch, and it’s about the complete experience,” Green says. If you have feedback on this article please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, ext. 25, or e-mail lisa(at)axiomnews.ca.