If you live in or around Calgary and are interested in dementia, the Alzheimer Society of Calgary has a number of volunteer opportunities that may be of interest to you. These include such things as visiting a person living with dementia, educating others about dementia and Alzheimers and participating in special events. Click here for current opportunities.
If you live in or near Vernon, British Columbia and are interested in improving health care, this may be of interest to you.
The Patient Voices Network is in search of volunteers in Vernon.
The Interior Health residential care framework redesign advisory committee is looking for 10 to 14 volunteers to share experiences they’ve had with the health care system in order to provide feedback to the institution. “It’s through a patient lens,” said Carol Stathers, PVN Okanagan engagement leader.
The volunteers may also help with putting together patient educational pamphlets.
Click here to continue reading.
“AHS [Alberta Health Services] put out a nice video with a succinct description of how patients and families are at centre of their work. I quite liked it.. Have a look if you are interested.” – Troy, a member of the Pts4Chg community.
The following was written and submitted by the Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics (AUA) project team.
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Long-term care (LTC) sites often wait months for expert consultation on very challenging responsive behaviours (or send the person to hospital). Last November we experimented by throwing out an open invitation to our LTC contacts to help out with a case study from North zone. There were many insightful suggestions from more than 30 callers (and no one said, “Have you thought of adding more drugs?”) We wrote the case study and ideas into a report and shared with the sites. Curbside consultations have grown in popularity with 30 – 50 callers (some representing groups of up to 10 staff members) at noon and 2 pm on the 3rd Wednesday of each month. This is helping residents and staff get more timely help, is educating and empowering staff to try new ideas, and has the potential to take some pressure off the very stretched mental health consultants.
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Click here to learn about the AUA team and their initiatives.
Alberta Health is seeking your input on Nursing Home Legislation. Discussion topics will focus on care providers, eligibility, social and leisure activities and meal requirements. Click on the above image for more details.
If you are interested in health-care services and want to make a difference, here is an opportunity that you may wish to explore. Please note that the deadline for applications was May 18, 2016, but has been extended.
If you will be in the Lethbridge area on May 27th, here is an event you may be interested in attending.
Searching for Closeness – Why Feelings Matter Most in Dementia Care
Presenter: Dr. David Sheard, CEO / Founder Dementia Care Matters
Interventions to Change Practice in Long Term Care Facilities
Presenter: Dr. Sienna Caspar, Assistant Professor, Therapeutic Recreation Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, U of L
Moral Distress
Presenter: Dr. Shannon Spenceley, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, U of L
Understanding the Role of the Male Caregiver
Presenter: Mr. Ryan Waldorf, MHSc (Nursing), RN; Instructor, Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, U of L
Learning How to be a Butterfly – The Butterfly Household Model of Care
Presenter: Dr. David Sheard
Click here for the Conference Registration Form.
On Thursday, April 21st, the Continuing Care & Community Living – Expo 2016 was held in Calgary. This event, sponsored by Alberta Health Services and Covenant Heath, focused on introducing individuals and their families to new initiatives, opportunities and technologies relating to independence and aging.
Below are some tweets that @aircalgary sent while attending Expo 2016.
My dad's favourites: the recliner chair and super duper fm amplifier for hearing aids @Pts4Chg pic.twitter.com/FaTvDlMZFn
— AirCalgary (@aircalgary) April 22, 2016
Loved seeing wonderful #FamilyPresence focus from FCRC friends @Pts4Chg pic.twitter.com/kP1lkeSKFJ
— AirCalgary (@aircalgary) April 22, 2016
Appreciate that #FamilyPresence language Slowly making its way to continuing care @Pts4Chg pic.twitter.com/uUgtrTbh5O
— AirCalgary (@aircalgary) April 22, 2016
If you were unable to attend the Continuing Care & Community Living – Expo 2016 in Calgary, you have a chance to do so on Friday, May 6th in Edmonton, Alberta. As was the case in Calgary, admission and parking are FREE. To learn more about the event, including the topics that will be addressed, click on the image below.
If you are interested in Patient Oriented Research (POR), this might be something you want to attend.
The Patient-Oriented Research Training Program provides participants with a foundational understanding of Patient-Oriented Research (POR). It is intended to help equip research team members with the skills and knowledge necessary to engage meaningfully in projects that involve a POR approach. The Training Program is open to anyone who is collaborating, or planning to collaborate, in POR. It is intended for graduate students, trainees, community and academic researchers, patients and family members, health care professionals, decision-makers, and industry and community stakeholders who are interested in learning about, or contributing to, POR in Alberta.
Click here to continue reading.
Recently, some interesting discussion has arisen concerning a particular topic – volunteers and compensation. More specifically, should volunteers receive honorariums? What are your thoughts on this issue?
Poll: Should #volunteers be given honorariums? #volunteerism @yyclamb @tjhockeymom @tweetvandijk @marnipanas
— Patients 4 Change (@Pts4Chg) March 29, 2016
