Nurse training, strong skill sets key to LTC's future: administrator

Burnbrae Gardens' partnership with PRHC an example of meeting future needs today

July 20, 2012 -- Deron Hamel

A resident requiring peritoneal dialysis recently moved into Burnbrae Gardens. While she was initially concerned about the Campbellford long-term care home’s ability to meet her care needs, her concerns quickly disappeared, thanks to training nursing staff has received for peritoneal dialysis, a treatment for chronic kidney disease that helps control fluid and electrolyte levels.

This is an example of how staff members are today prepared to meet the needs of an increasing resident population requiring complex care, says administrator and director of care Susan Cymbaluk.

“We’re seeing more younger residents with more health diagnoses, (and) they don’t necessarily want to go to hospital, or are unable to go to hospital, so we have to have that skill level and build that skill level so the residents feel comfortable doing the treatments here,” she tells the OMNIway.

“We were able to reassure (the resident) and reassure her family that the supplies would be here and that the staff will be well trained and help her maintain her independence in her new home.”

In the case of peritoneal care, Burnbrae Gardens has partnered with Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) to train staff members to use dialysis equipment.

“That’s something where we did take initiative; we did form a partnership to train the staff and roll out the program with that resident in house,” says Cymbaluk.

The administrator notes that many potential long-term care residents are staying at home longer and coming into long-term care in crisis situations, as opposed when they’re healthier, resulting in more people with complex-care needs.

With this trend likely to persist, it’s imperative Burnbrae Gardens continues seeking opportunities to educate front-line staff on complex-care treatments, says Cymbaluk.

“Access centres are reducing services in the community and budgets are being reduced, (so) the expectation is that long-term care homes are going to pick up (much of the work),” she says.

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