SHARE:The Cedars would like to recognize and congratulate our first PAC (Positive Approach to Care) Champions. Pictured here are Jenna Perkins, Kelly Thumb, Tracy Fleck and Karen Cook. Each of these wonderful caregivers has completed The Cedars Positive Approach to Care Trainings – created by internationally regarded occupational therapist, Teepa Snow – and has demonstrated their new skills while working with our residents who are living with memory loss. Their care, patience, creativity, and positive attitudes all combine to make our residents’ daily lives more peaceful and connected. Working with each resident’s strengths, instead of focusing on their cognitive losses, translates to better days and more successful moments for people living with memory loss. As PAC Champions, each caregiver has signed an agreement to be a role model to their team in their Positive Approach to Care with our residents. You can find each of these caregivers working...
SHARE: The Cedars, one of Maine’s most comprehensive senior living communities, recently hosted a panel of national experts at the symposium, A Silver Lining for an Aging State: A Bold Approach to Boost Maine’s Economy. Presenters examined the critical issues facing the State of Maine as our population rapidly ages and workforce steadily declines. They each offered insights into workforce and labor issues at the local, state and national level, shared innovative partnerships to benefit the people and the economy of Maine, and introduced creative solutions through a powerful new model of senior care that will transform how we live the later stages of our lives. The conversation was active and passionate throughout the room. The audience included members of the healthcare community, educational partners, local business representatives, policy analysts and more. Panelists and some key points include: John Dorrer, Workforce Development Consultant and former Acting Commissioner of the Maine Department of Labor shared...
SHARE: Kelly has been working at The Cedars for 10 years – as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Rehabilitation Aide and super valuable team member. She was recently honored with the Maine Ombudsman Program Excellence in Long Term Care Award. The Cedars is blessed to have Kelly in our community. Here are some of Kelly’s special characteristics that we highlighted when nominating her for the award: Understands the value of person-centered care and makes the residents her priority Cultivates excellence and strong leadership qualities Demonstrates sincere compassion and understanding of residents with dementia An inspiration to watch as she makes difficult situations appear easy Embraces a challenge Willing to assist staff, always States what is on her mind Infuses her incredible sense of humor with everyone she encounters Takes on the transition to the Household Model of care through Learning Circles with staff and residents, storytelling as a means of learning,...
SHARE:Each month, The Cedars celebrates our Culture Change Heroes – those staff that stand out for their leadership and team work, while embracing person-centered care in their interactions with the older people living at The Cedars. Since December, we’ve had the chance to recognize the following heroes: Joe Gerardo in Environmental Services; Melissa Deering, Amber Schmidt, Connie Poole, Tracy Coburn in Nursing; and Amy Callison, Neighborhood Homemaker. Here is what makes these heroes standout, in the words of their peers: Going above and beyond to improve the quality of life and care for our residents. Through hard work with maintenance repairs and improving residents’ day to day experiences. Constantly striving for excellence, she helps to coach staff when they need it and constantly supports and encourages everyone she meets. Between taking extra shifts and orienting new staff, she tirelessly helps all of our residents and ensures all tasks are...
SHARE:In the Households at The Cedars, we are committed to encouraging leadership through high involvement, communication, a learning climate, conflict resolution, and teams. Leadership is a characteristic, not a position – and it’s for everyone, not just for those who have been given a title or managed a department. Leadership is finding everyday ways to make a difference. We lead when we tune into the bigger environment, listen to critics, challenge assumptions, search for information and knowledge – and see something that others don’t see. Think of a time in your life when you’ve been a leader – helping your children through a tough time, supporting your families, choosing to take the high road in a conflict, influencing others when you see the hidden value in a situation or individual. “Leadership is a calling on every one of us … it’s about becoming the person we were meant to...
SHARE:As we progress on our transformation into the Household Model, The Cedars is learning and evolving in many ways. One helpful tool in our process has been the Learning Circle. Staff throughout the community are finding the value of this communication method where trust and understanding are fostered and diverse perspectives are welcomed, shared and respected. The Learning Circle begins when the facilitator poses a question or issue for the group, and then a volunteer responds with their thoughts on the topic. The person on the left or the right of that person goes next, followed one by one around the circle until everyone has spoken, without interruption. Participants are welcome to pass, at the end they are given the opportunity to respond. Once everyone has had the chance to speak, the floor opens for general discussion. A recent Learning Circle involving staff on the Neighborhoods centered around the...
SHARE:The Cedars Learning Center will address the national shortage of skilled senior care providers. TODAY OUR NATION faces a steep rise in its senior population and a critical shortfall of skilled caregivers. As the second-oldest state in the nation, Maine will feel this shortage more than most. We can’t wait for others to build tomorrow’s workforce. We must do it ourselves—beginning now. “Over the next two years, in conjunction with industry thought leaders, The Cedars will be committing its resources to the development of a Learning Community™ —an in-house teaching and learning resource with which to train its workforce of the future,” explains Bill Foster, former Dean of the Muskie School of Public Service and former Chief of Staff and Deputy Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Labor. “It will serve as a unique model of open source teaching and learning for all of us.” Over the years, The Cedars...
SHARE:What is Culture Change? A PersonFirst approach to care It requires knowledge of our residents’ preferences and life stories It needs facility systems that support our staff in providing care on our residents’ own schedule and preferences It requires empowerment of our staff in self-directed teams so that they can make decisions in the moment, for our residents The Cedars has been on the Culture Change journey for a while. And now we have a company called Action Pact to help us. They are experts on Culture Change and provide trainings for staff in all departments, volunteers, family and residents. The PersonFirst Approach In order to make home, we must start by knowing and honoring an individual’s life, stories and desires. To create a meaningful life, we all have five human needs that must be filled: Inclusion: we all need to be part of a larger group, to be included in life around...
