The Dreambuilders Education Conference encourages the exchange of fresh ideas and approaches in seniors’ health, housing, support services and products. Sessions emphasize concepts that can be readily adapted by others, with interactive presentations that encourage learning and provide a springboard for lively discussion. Biographies for all concurrent session presenters can be found on the Conference Speakers page.
Concurrent Block D
10:30 to 11:45, Friday, October 26D1 Applying The Power of Focus to Your Career and Personal Life
Les Hewitt
Author and Professional Coach
Founder and President, The Power of Focus, Inc., Calgary, Alberta
Today we live in an age of interruptions, distraction and a lack of focus. During this hands-on practical workshop, you’ll learn the focusing strategies used by the world’s most successful men and women. Discover the “four fundamentals” that separate the true winners from those who consistently struggle.
- Learn how to set exciting goals for the future – and achieve them
- Discover what their current level of focus really is (be prepared for a shock!)
- Explore strategies to nourish, enrich and expand your most important relationships
- Learn how to change bad habits into successful habits
D2 A Perfect Storm: The Coming Workforce Crisis
Kevin Blanchette, MBA
Managing Director, Worksmart, Inc., Calgary, Alberta
Jim Brown, BA
President, Empower Group, Lethbridge, Alberta
Canada has never had such a large proportion of older workers in the workforce or a generation nearing retirement that is as large as the baby boomers. In our history, the growth rate of the labor force has never dropped and remained so low. In these complex times, it is critical to understand the changing labor market and the key elements of a dynamic workforce strategy that will help to manage these compounding effects.
- Understand the pending challenges of the changing workforce dynamics and the shortage of skills and labor
- Recognize the importance of assessing the level of employee engagement in their organizations
- Understand the importance of developing and implementing a workforce strategy that will attract and retain talented employees
- Recognize the importance of effectively engaging the three worker segments represented in today’s workforce
D3 Didsbury Care Centre: Creating a Home for the Rural Resident
Ross Hayes, BArch, MArch, MRAIC, MCIP
Director, IBI Group, Calgary, Alberta
Neil MacLean, BA
Senior Associate, IBI Group, Calgary, Alberta
Valerie Doroshenko, BA, MEDes
Associate, IBI Group, Calgary, Alberta
We all know what a “homelike” care centre or assisted living environment means – or do we? Resident, family and caregiver perspectives were solicited for a new care centre in Didsbury, Alberta, and these perspectives differ from the conventional wisdom in some interesting ways.
We will explain how the definition of “home” varies with the population served, and how the architectural design response can respect those preferences while maintaining a functional care environment.
- Understand how “homelike” means different things to different people
- Discover how to engage residents and families in the design process
- Learn how design can respect users’ desires while supporting care delivery
D4 Suffering and Compassion: A Personal Exploration for Caregivers
Carol Barwick, BA
Chaplain, Hospice Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Caregivers often enter their profession motivated by a personal experience with suffering, which results in a desire to help relieve the suffering of others. This workshop is an exploration of the caregiver’s personal experience of suffering and how this interacts with the experience of suffering of clients and within the workplace.
- Understand the scope and nature of suffering in health care
- Appreciate the interaction between personal and professional suffering
- Learn about tools to help process suffering
- Develop self-compassion and understanding of how this interacts with compassion for others
D5 Club 36: Celebrating the Arts at an Adult Day Support Program
Sarah Price, BASc
Director, Dementia Care Programs, Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Maida Higa, LPN
Club 36 Site Coordinator, Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Nicole Brander, BA, RT
Club 36 Site Coordinator, Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
CLUB 36, a dementia-specific adult day support program, offers activity programs that tap into skills that may no longer be utilized but can definitely be realized. Through an art therapy and music therapy program, members are engaged in activities where “dreams can come true.” Be introduced to the process of engaging those with dementia in the arts; learn how to develop similar programs and what the outcomes are for CLUB 36 members and staff.
- Appreciate the unique artistic abilities of those living with dementia
- Be able to apply person-centered approaches to enhancing those abilities
- Learn how to apply similar arts programs in their complex workplace environments
D6 Botox and Spasticity Management: Making a Difference in the Neuro-rehabilitation Setting
Linda Jablonski, BScPT
Equal Program, Carewest Dr. Vernon Fanning Centre Calgary, Alberta
Dr. Noorshima Virani, BScPT, MD, FRCPC
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Calgary and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Neuromusculoskeletal Consultant, Calgary Health Region Chronic Pain Centre, Calgary, Alberta
Justin James
Neuroscience Medical Consultant, Alberta Division, Allergan Canada
Spasticity is common in those with central neurological disorders. It can interfere with activities of daily living, and, if not managed appropriately, can lead to severe contractures, leaving surgery as the only viable option to prevent further complications. Botulinum toxin has proven to be one of the most effective means of reducing focal spasticity, especially when combined with an interdisciplinary approach incorporating the skills of qualified physical and occupational therapists. This session identifies cases in continuing care where BotoxR was instrumental in achieving care goals while enhancing quality of life.
- Be able to define and assess spasticity and patterns of increased tone
- Recognize the types of disability that can occur as a result of spasticity
- Understand how botulinum toxin acts on spasticity and its effectiveness in conjunction with physical and occupational therapy interventions
- Identify goals that can be achieved with effective spasticity management to enhance quality of life for caregivers and those with increased tone
Concurrent Block E
1:00 to 2:15, Friday, October 26E1 Ethics Consultation: Responding to Ethics Concerns in Continuing Care
Melina Dharma-Wardene, MPH, MBA
Director of Quality and Service Development, Bethany Care Society, Calgary, Alberta
Al-Noor Nenshi Nathoo, BSc, MA
Executive Director and Southern Alberta Coordinator, Provincial Health Ethics Network, Calgary, Alberta
Kim Neil, RT
Recreation/Volunteer Coordinator, Bethany Harvest Hills, Calgary, Alberta
With increasing complexity and acuity in continuing care, it is often necessary for health care workers to make ethical decisions in the course of care giving. But how do they know if they are making the right decision at the right time? This session focuses on tools and processes relevant to ethical decision-making. This session will outline a process that helps build a concrete sequence of steps, giving staff the evidence-base they need to present their decisions to residents, families, other staff and, in some cases, the general public.
- Learn about the benefits of organizational Ethics Committees
- Be able to better identify ethical issues in their daily work life
- Identify public resources and system supports in ethics for health care professionals
- Develop a personal toolkit to understand and work through ethical issues
E2 Predictors of Stress in Professional Continuing Care Providers
Greg Wells, PhD
Psychology Instructor, Red Deer College, Red Deer, Alberta
Care providers in continuing care centres are at high risk for job-related distress and burnout, which are associated with low job satisfaction, job absenteeism and turnover. This session summarizes a research project which examined the relative importance of individual factors such as optimism, neuroticism, coping styles and self-efficacy in predicting job-related distress among professionals working in continuing care. Results are reported and discussed in the context of possible intervention strategies for reducing workplace stress and increasing job satisfaction.
- Develop awareness of evidence concerning individual predictors of stress in the continuing care workplace
- Gain insight into how burnout might be minimized and job satisfaction enhanced among professional continuing care providers
E3 Housing for Everyone
Ron Wickman, BA, BEDS, MArch
Principal, Ron Wickman Architect, Edmonton, Alberta
Good housing is designed in the beginning to allow for easier future changes, additions or adaptations, thus affording a family the choice to grow old in the same home and in the same community. Designing a dwelling with the needs of more persons in mind is not just a technical issue that we can deal with in the future, it is a creative act that we can consider now to make the future better for everyone.
- Learn about Universal Design and accommodating persons with disabilities
- Learn about housing that is designed to be affordable and adaptable
- Learn about homes designed to allow for aging in place
- Learn about small-scale housing as an alternative to larger scale seniors’ developments
E4 How to Win a Goat: Achieve the Life you Deserve
Val Carter, BA, CHRP
Director, The Success Centre Inc. Calgary, Alberta
Your “must-do” list keeps growing longer. There aren’t enough hours in the day. You procrastinate. You feel overwhelmed. The demands of work and family mean you often neglect your own needs. This isn’t the life you dream of! This relaxed, interactive session will allow you guilt-free time to determine priorities in your life and explore ways to manage your time. Leave with a personalized action plan to win your own “goat” – whatever that means for you.
- Determine work and life priorities compatible with their personal values
- Set and uphold constructive personal boundaries
- Manage their time for optimum effectiveness
- Work towards achieving goals in a way that is not overwhelming
E5 Balance for Life: A Community Affair
Wendy Rodger, BPE, AFLCA
Program Director, Kerby Centre, and Trainer of Fitness Leaders, Fitness for the Older Adult, Calgary, Alberta
Elizabeth Graves, BA (Recreation Administration)
Certified Fitness Consultant, Recreation Therapist, The Alex Seniors Community Health Centre, Calgary Alberta
Falls prevention and balance training go hand in hand. Find out about the trials and tribulations, as well as the joyful triumphs, of working a community development plan with three different seniors’ organizations in order to offer exercise programs targeting balance. Experiment with the latest in balance equipment. Try exercises to reawaken the various components of the physiology of balance.
Learn about the challenges of working with three different functional levels in three different settings.
- Gain an understanding of the challenges and triumphs of teaching balance classes in three different communities
- Develop an appreciation for the intensity of balance workouts using various equipment and progression of exercises
- Identify characteristics of three functional levels of participants
- Increase awareness of risk factors for falls and how other professionals can assist in promotion of balance training
E6 Understanding Delirium
Britt Simmons, MD, CCFP
Hospitalist, Rockyview General Hospital, Calgary Health Region, Calgary, Alberta
Delirium is a very common condition in illness and aging. What is it? How does one recognize if someone is developing delirium? Is there a difference between dementia and delirium? What causes delirium? Can it be prevented or treated? This session will explore delirium and how it can affect residents of continuing care centres.
- Gain a better understanding of delirium
- Learn to recognize and manage delirium in residents of continuing care
