CELEBRATE AND LEARN FROM THE REST

Being an Innovator

Northwood Care is proud to announce the development of Chestnut Lake, a residence to support those living with dementia and their families through this arc of life.

With financial support from the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care, we are piloting a new model with augmented care staff and technology to provide a dignified living environment for people living with dementia who need various behavioural supports.

Chestnut Lake is a place where meaningful communication and connections with others are encouraged and the opportunity for choice is provided.

Our focus for Chestnut Lake is to optimize a dignified environment for people living with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and support suitable, integrated living within the Northwood community. Social interaction is encouraged, and life will be enriched through such things as way-finding enhancements, increased access to the outdoors and gardening, music therapy, pet therapy, sensory, art, and expression.

Northwood has established a strong and diverse interdisciplinary team with substantial knowledge and experience providing care to those living with BPSD.

Working alongside residents and their families, the team provides excellence in behavioural health care and overall wellness for those living with the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.

Chestnut Lake may provide temporary support and care to some people, while others will call it home for the duration of their stay at Northwood. Our interdisciplinary team will be working both with residents and their families to support each resident’s life-long patterns, current interests, strengths, and needs.

There are a lot of other improvements and evidence -informed plans coming up. Stay tuned for many new initiatives, like new patio gardens, gratitude boards, and much more.

improvements and evidence

Embracing Technology

Sleepsense Bed Sensors

The Sleepsense Bed Sensor is placed under one leg or wheel of the resident's bed. The sensor measures in real time the resident's heart rate, and respiration rate while the resident is in their bed sleeping or just watching TV.

This incredible sensor monitors sleep and can also alert staff if the resident exits their bed or takes longer than anticipated to return to bed.

Alerts can be sent to a mobile device or hardwired into the nurse call system. Staff can perform virtual rounds without needing to wake the resident.

Remote curtain devices

Assisted technology is rapidly evolving, and our residents are enjoying the additional independence.

Tasks as simple as closing your curtains can be difficult for many of our residents. Their existing curtains can be converted to voicecontrolled operation.

By adding a wireless-controlled device to the curtain rod, the residents can open and close their curtains independently.

Uv Light Study Update

While this past year had challenges, it was also filled with much success. The entire UVC Light Study team is grateful for your support.

INTOUCH ON-THE-MOVE

Northwood Intouch saw the launch of their first mobile help button, On-TheMove, last May. The device has been very popular, surpassing projected growth goals and receiving positive feedback. It offers the ability for clients to have access to help while they are at home or in the community. We added a companion button in 2023. This companion button connects to the On-The-Move device via Bluetooth and allows for a smaller and lighter weight version of the button for around the home, while bathing, and while the main device is charging.

The Stover Sensor that has been offered for the last number of years has been upgraded with a new device that is made in Canada. The new sensor has added features such as being able to program it remotely and sending alerts via text and email.

Below are some exciting changes

1) New lamps - More has been learned about far-UVC light over this past year, so we are upgrading our study lamps to stay current with new technology and science guidelines. The participating facilities have already agreed to the installation of new lamps.

2) Additional site - Currently, this study is active at Windsor Elms Village (Falmouth) and Northwood (Halifax). To greatly increase our participant total, we are planning to include a third long-term care facility - The Cove Guest Home, in Sydney, Cape Breton!

3) Extended data collection! - We initially planned to monitor resident health for a maximum of 24 months, but to significantly increase the strength of the data, this part of the study will be extended until February 2025. This means participants could now be monitored for up to 40 months in total.

Young Adult Pilot

We were successful in obtaining funding through the Provincial Innovation Grant Program administered by the Health Association (HANS).

This pilot is intended to support further development of our unique supports for our young adult population including our SMARTech Project and Elderdog research. We have been approved for $354,004.

Omivista Mobil

The Halifax Recreation Therapy Department has acquired an exciting piece of technology thanks to generous grant funding: the OmiVista Mobii interactive projector. This portable projector uses responsive technology to project images, videos, and games onto floors or tabletops. It creates an immersive environment with sights and sounds that respond to physical gestures like ball tossing, or beanbag throwing.

Northwood, the Nova Scotia Health Authority, and national and international partners have been awarded funding through AGE-WELL, Canada’s Technology and Aging Network, to advance research on SMART assistive technology and person-centred care solutions in continuing care. Northwood has received $648,055 from the SLTC Innovation Program to support equipment purchases, IT support, and our rehab team.

Using off-the-shelf devices and the breakthrough Emitto technology, the research explores how to enable older people aging with complex mobility needs to live with greater independence and dignity.

The data collection portion of the project is complete. Data is currently being analyzed and manuscripts are being written.

The Northwood staff funded by the Innovation Grant have completed their work. A new .4FTE technology navigator position was created for ongoing support to our SMARtech participants.

Stay tuned for more information on how we will continue to integrate this technology into our programs.

(LTCF) Assessment System

The interRAI Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) Assessment System is a comprehensive, standardized system for evaluating the needs, strengths, and preferences of persons in chronic care and nursing home institutional settings. Completing an LTCF assessment enables a health care provider to assess key domains of function, mental and physical health, social support, and service use.

The interRAI assessment instruments are a rich source of information to support clinical and organizational decision-making. Because these clinical assessments share core assessment items and use standardized language, the information remains meaningful across health care sectors and promotes continuity of care.

Contributing to this database will allow us to benchmark our outcomes against other longterm care providers.

Car Share

In our continued effort to support Northwood’s eco-friendly initiatives, we are hosting two vehicles from Communauto’s car sharing program. These vehicles are available to all members of our community, including tenants and staff. More information about this program can be found by visiting the Communauto website – https://halifax.communauto.com

Adaptive Eating Aid

Northwood has implemented the use of the Obi, an adaptive eating aid for residents with upper extremity mobility, strength, or coordination limitations.

Through the use of a touch switch, the user is able to select the food from one of four sections of the plate and, through a second switch, choose when the food is brought to their mouth.

(EMAR) implementation

Halifax Long-Term Care Electronic Medical Record (EMAR) implementation was completed in May 2022.

Research Symposium

In June 2020, we were scheduled to celebrate the 10th anniversary of this event. Unfortunately, due to COVID, the event was postponed.

In conjunction with the support of our Research Advisory Committee, we offered a virtual Symposium on Friday, June 19, 2022.

Our 2022 Research Symposium was jam packed with exciting and informative presentations from leaders in their field like Dr. Kenneth Rockwood and Dr. Lisa Barrett. From Caring Canines to Smart Technology, there was something for everyone.