From hygiene bags to furniture, improvements made at home

New Almonte administrator feels she's made a difference

December 16, 2011 -- Deb Bartlett

In the short time that Marilyn Colton has been Almonte Country Haven's administrator she feels she's helped make a difference for staff and residents.

After her arrival in August, she discovered that residents were using common product bottles in the bath and shower. Every resident now has their own mesh bag of personal hygiene products that goes back and forth with them for bathing. The bags contain toothpaste, shampoo and lotion, along with personal items.

Colton says staff members just grab a resident's personal bag when they go to bathe.

"It's a simple process and it works really well," says Colton. "Everyone's happy, including families."

She's also made an effort to spruce up the home with some new functional furniture. The sitting room, a cozy area with a big screen television, was rarely used. She discovered residents weren't using it because they had difficulty getting out of the chairs.

Colton bought leather furniture for the room, and the day after it arrived residents scurried away after breakfast "to find their favourite chair. It added to their comfort, and they could sit and watch Canada AM or what have you," she says.

She also refurbished the home's serenity room. When residents are near end of life they can be moved to a private room where their family members can stay with them. 

She purchased a recliner chair and television, had soft lighting installed, and says many families have taken advantage of the serenity room as their loved one passes.

Wanting to follow through on OMNI's value of appreciating everyone who works there, Colton furnished a little alcove to be the charting area, so staff can sit comfortably to do paperwork.

She says staff members have thanked her for that. The final difference that she believes will impact residents is the implementation of the diabetic protocol, under the direction of director of care Ellen Thompson.

Diabetic shoes are offered free of charge to every resident with diabetes, and the home has begun using Lantus, insulin administered once a day, for as many of the residents as possible.

Colton says Lantus is not appropriate for every insulin-dependent resident, but it works "wonderfully well" for most people. The daily administration of one type of insulin reduces med errors, says Colton.

To comment on this story, or to share your home's successes over the past year, contact Deb at 800-294-0051, ext. 30, or email deb(at)axiomnews.ca.






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