Partnerships help Sarnia home lower hospital transfer rate
Monday, December 19, 2005 -- Craig Anderson
Two partnerships developed in 2005 allowed Heron Terrace to address their most pressing care need, says Annette Groulx, administrator.

The Sarnia-based home, which has a dementia unit, was troubled by a high rate of transfer, which perplexed management and was a strain on families. Transfer was most hard on the residents themselves, as it would normally increase dementia-related behaviours, says Groulx.

“Movement increases confusion,” says Groulx.

Beyond transfers, the other frequently used option was to consult a geriatric assessment program. Recourse to both options was abnormally high, says Groulx.

The home’s managers realized that staff hadn’t received enough dementia education, explaining the high incidence of transfer and referral.

Groulx contacted the Sarnia Alzheimer Society, and enlisted the help of Gwen Robertson, educational coordinator. Along with volunteers and family members, Gwen presented the nursing and support staff with a “Train the Trainer” program to better understand dementia and Alzheimer disease.

Since the educational training took place, staff are better equipped to manage behaviours. Referrals are minimal now, and transfers are a last resort, says Groulx.

“It’s much better because there’s not that upset of transfer anymore,” says Groulx. “And the families are more satisfied.”

Transfers were also in the spotlight when the home joined a collaborative community partnership – “Caring for Our Elderly.” The partnership draws upon the collective knowledge of eighteen long term care homes, 44 retirement homes, three area hospitals, the community care access centre and hospice care. The partnership hopes to continue to collaborate on ways to provide the best level of care for Sarnia’s elderly, says Groulx.

A sub-committee – “Transfer Tools” – has grown out of the groups two initial meetings, most recent of which was on November 2nd.

Area hospitals are feeling overburdened with the number of transfers they have been receiving from nursing homes, says Groulx. On the other hand, she adds, Heron Terrace staff felt “helpless” at times, needing the hospital’s services.

The sub-committee is working on providing comprehensive assessment tools so that both parties – the hospital and the nursing home – can ameliorate the problem.