Innovation In Social Programming: It’s Time for Change May 6, 2015 Joel Kroft Corporate Director of Alzheimer’s Programs, Country Meadows Maria Nadelstumph Vice President of Organizational Development & Program Excellence Brandywine Senior Living
Session Objectives
Social Programming Defined Learn How To Assess “Quality” In Social Programming Learn The Importance Of Innovation In Memory Care Programming Learn Steps To Develop Strategic Program Plans For Implementation Learn Methods For Successful Program Integration
Social Programming & Memory Care
Why I Hate Bingo… And so should you!
▶ What
should Good Great Dementia Programming look like?
The Changing Nature of Activities‌ Activities What do you call it?
Social Engagement
What is Social Engagement? ▶
Four parts of Social Engagement
1.
Intimate Social Relationships
2.
Formal organized involvement
3.
Active and Social Leisure
4.
Passive and Solitary Leisure
What is Social Engagement? Studies show: As Social Engagement goes
Quality of life also goes
What Do You Like To Do?
QUESTION:
What do you think you will want to do when you are 80 years-old?
QUESTION: What do you think you will want to do when you are 80 years-old‌ and have dementia?
Why Bother with Social Engagement? Increase your residents Quality of Life ▶ Decrease Behaviors ▶ Happy Families ▶ Happy Co-workers ▶ Create Meaning ▶ Connections ▶
The Evolving Nature of Social Engagement From : Filler & “Because Regs say we have to…”
To: This is the most effec-ve way we can improve our residents Quality of Life!
The Importance of Social Engagement If a shower is the best thing to happen in your day, you have a Quality of Life issue‌
Joel’s Scientific Approach to Reviewing Social Engagement…
What does Social Engagement Look like? How do your residents look? ▶ How does your STAFF look? ▶
How Many Residents Spend A Lot Of Time Alone?
Social Engagement? ▶
How many residents are with other residents… but the only thing they are sharing is boredom?
Social Engagement? ▜ 
When there are activities, are people really engaged?
What Should You Be Looking For? Awake residents Alert and active co-workers Smiles Talking Relaxed bodies & muscles Inviting spaces
What Should You Be Looking For? Things you don’t want to see: Sleeping ▶ Slumped postures ▶ Wandering away ▶ Bored co-workers ▶ Lots of distractions ▶ No or bad calendar ▶ Lots of waiting for something to happen ▶
The C ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶
alen
dar
A promise to families Is it displayed new each day? Does it always have the same activities listed? Does it match what you see happening? Does it have variety? Are there titles that you don’t know what they mean? Does it meet your resident’s needs? Would you feel good about sharing it here? ▶ Do you check it daily??????
What Makes Good / Successful Social Programming? Right Residents ▶ Right Length ▶ Right Setting ▶ Right Energy ▶ Right Planning ▶ Right Time ▶ Right Staff ▶
Small Groups vs. Large Groups Is it the right small group? Smaller isn’t always beBer…but most of the -me it is!
Can your residents successfully engage in a large group?
Social Engagement Planning ▶
Your team needs to be intentional in planning • Planning doesn’t just “happen”! • Does your team set aside time to plan…. • Or do they do it on the fly?
▶
What happens when we don’t plan? • Bingo • Word in a word • Trivia books…
Environment Matters! Are you using the right space for the right program? ▶ Extra
Noise ▶ Temperature ▶ Enough Space ▶ The Right Seating ▶ Lighting
Structured Environments Does the environment invite exploration? ▶ Are there things to engage residents when staff aren’t leading a program? – Puzzles, books, etc. ▶ Are you comfortable in the environment? ▶
Other Considerations Is there an opportunity for Purposeful Service? ▶ Does your team take time to foster friendships between residents? ▶ Are families involved? ▶ Do you have connections to the world? ▶
After Your Tour… Do you like what you see? ▶ Is it consistent? ▶ Is there more that could be done to improve the Quality of Life for your residents? ▶
▶
The path to innovation…
Is it Time for Change? Re-Defining Your Social Program Quality=Brand
Innovation in Memory Care
Idea Generation
Who formulates program ideas in your organization/ community? How do ideas move from the suggestion box or email to the table? What is your process?
Why is Innovation Important? Innovation keeps you competitive ▶ Innovation keeps the customer, resident, family and team… intrigued and interested ▶ Keeps the program culture active in change processes ▶ Strengthens your brand ▶ Creates vibrancy and quality in services ▶
Why Does Innovation Fail? ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶
Only one or a few Innovators Not enough support. No buy in. We are doing “fine.” Why make changes? No planning or preparation Not enough time Missed step (s) in the Program Innovation process Seen as a disruption to operations Unable to see the need for change Do not assess the program
What Can You Do Now? Review Innovation needs in your program ▶ Develop an Innovation team ▶ Plan a “Think Tank” meeting (s) ▶ Identify top 3 Innovative program ideas ▶ Develop a plan for each idea and project roadmap ▶ Get started-Follow the Three Steps! ▶
Three Steps for Program Innovation
Integra-on  Implementa-on  Development
Development De9ining Your Idea ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶
▶ ▶
Program need Size and scope Impacts and Risks Feasibility Preparation and planning (what and why) Involvement and buy in from key stakeholders (Management, front line staff, families, etc.) Develop project roadmap (timeline) Brand/Logo
Implementation Executing the Plan ▶ ▶ ▶
▶ ▶
Role Out Plan (who, when, where, how?) Communication strategy Buy In and Key Stakeholder involvement/ orientation (operations) Pilot the program or “trial” 30-90 days
Integration Evaluating the Results ▶
▶ ▶
▶
Review program with team Focus group/survey Checkpoint-Continuous monitoring (what is working? what is not?) Adjust along the way
Tips for Success Don’t look backwards, look forward ▶ Bring others into your Innovation Think Tank ▶ Aim high with program development! ▶ Talk about lessons learned ▶ Focus on action ▶ Research other programs…what are we “not” doing? ▶ Don’t benchmark on competitors, benchmark on yourself ▶
QUESTIONS?