Frost Manor's new way-finding signs helping residents navigate the home


The Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) team at OMNI Health Care's Frost Manor has been busy recently coming up with solutions to make navigating the Lindsay long-term care home easier for residents.

One of the team’s latest innovations is posting way-finding signs in the hallways that direct residents to the dining room and to hallways to avoid the confusion and responsive behaviours that may result when people can’t find where they need to go.

The residents have been finding the signs helpful, says Frost Manor registered practical nurse and BSO lead Justin Hills.

The signs, which were produced by Creative Art Co., are arrows pointing in the direction of the dining room or hallways with the words “dining room” or the name of the hallway embossed on them.

In November, Frost Manor’s BSO team had the names of the home’s hallways – Birch, Elm and Maple – painted on murals represented by the corresponding tree to help residents navigate the halls (read more about this here).

Residents with cognitive impairment are often challenged to find the dining room or the hallway where their rooms are located. Each of the halls at Frost Manor looks similar, which can add to the confusion, Justin says.

“And you can’t always see those murals from every angle of the home,” Justin explains.

“What (the new signs) do is point in certain areas. So when you first come in, you can’t see two of the hallways. But the arrows have enlarged letters with the name of the hallways and the direction pointing to them so that anyone coming from that angle will know where the hallway is.”

BSO is a provincial initiative to help enhance the quality of life for seniors affected by dementia and other conditions that cause agitation. The funding, which is provided to long-term care homes through Ontario’s 14 Local Health Integration Networks, is largely put towards staff education.


This story was published by Axiom News, originally on OMNI Health Care's website. Reposted with permission.