Staff Communication Research Articles

Practitioner perspectives on best practice in non-treatment factors that support the delivery of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for depression.

Accessible SummaryWhat is known about the subject? The practices of mental health nurses in the administration of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) treatments for depression in outpatient clinic are crucial for patient outcomesTo date, most research has focused directly on procedural aspects of treatment delivery with limited focus on the delivery of holistic care and treatment.There is a lack of best practice guidance based on the experiences of those involved in clinical delivery to inform and improve rTMS practices What this paper adds to existing knowledge? This study provides unique insights into service and personalized non‐treatment factors associated with rTMS delivery that may reduce stress and improve the experiences of rTMS patientsIt reviews and updates understanding of the factors that contribute to the delivery of effective rTMS. What are the implications for practice? The need to apply findings for the development of best practice guidanceFactors to improve practice include (a) rTMS machine demonstrations; (b) constructive, individualized, friendly, and therapeutic conversations; (c) a relaxing, comfortable, 'homely' physical environment; (d) long term supportive management; and (e) careful engagement of nursing and support staff.

Prevalence and correlates of undiagnosed hypertension among staff of a Nigerian university community.

Introductionthe prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria is high, with a considerable proportion of it being undiagnosed. Nevertheless, early identification of influencing variables for hypertension in different population groups is important for several reasons. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of undiagnosed hypertension among staff of a university community in Nigeria.Methodsa purposive sample of 281 staff of Bauchi State University, Gadau, Nigeria, fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Demographics, blood pressure, height, weight, socioeconomic status and physical activity were measured. Diagnosis of hypertension was defined based on a systolic and diastolic blood pressure of ≥140 mmHg and ≥90 mmHg, respectively. Data obtained was analysed descriptively, and by means of Chi-square, univariate and multivariate statistics using SPSS v24 software.Resultsthe mean age and body mass index (BMI) of the participants was 34.5 years and 23.1 ± 5.17 Kg/m2, respectively. The prevalence rate of undiagnosed hypertension was 27.8%. Normotensives significantly differed from participants with undiagnosed hypertension in most of the clinical and demographic variables (p<0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that a positive family history of hypertension had the highest odds of having undiagnosed hypertension (aOR: 0.833, 95%CI: 16.55-432.87, p= 0.000). Next, a higher BMI score (aOR: 0.425, 95%CI: 0.085-0.447, p= 0.000), male gender (aOR: 0.451, 95%CI: 0.141-0.829, p= 0.018), job cadre (aOR: 0.515, 95%CI: 0.073-0.550, p= 0.002) and low physical activity level (aOR: 0.572, 95%CI: 5.296-49.777, p=0.000) were other factors with about 50% odds for having undiagnosed hypertension among the participants. Lastly, smoking status and socioeconomic status of the participants were not significantly associated with undiagnosed hypertension (p>0.05).Conclusiona high percentage of the studied population have undiagnosed hypertension that is mainly associated with non-modifiable (especially positive family history) and a few modifiable risk factors. These variables can be used for early identification and in designing appropriate preventive strategies.

Abstract PO-011: Use of clinician and nurse tobacco cessation champions to implement a tobacco control program in a geographically disseminated academic center-led clinical network analyzed by patient racial/ethnic group

Abstract Background: City of Hope (COH) is an NCCN academic cancer center in Duarte CA and delivers care in 36 geographically dispersed community sites in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange and Ventura counties. We implemented a multi-departmental tobacco use control program (TUCP) (J Clin Med 2020; 1820). In order to facilitate implementation of the TUCP, we developed a multi-level multi-departmental program of clinician/nurse tobacco cessation champions using implementation science principles. Methods: A TUCP centered in Population Science included representatives of all clinical specialties. Cancer center leadership was engaged for resource allocation, and monthly staff communications (Moonshot Shout-outs). Tobacco-using patients were referred for tobacco cessation. To incentivize and promote cessation referrals and patient participation, TUCP worked with physician leaders and nurse leaders to name a clinician and nurse in each academic center clinic and each community site as champions. Results of this program were evaluated by tobacco use assessments and clinician attitude surveys. Results: Among the 36 COH sites and the Duarte academic center, 6 sites were selected for pilot implementation of the champion program. Champions (physicians, advanced practice providers, and nurses in multiple oncology specialties) were appointed and received structured training. Champions were tasked to promote cessation referrals by clinicians and staff, provide support for any problems, meet with TUCP leaders, report barriers to effective cessation implementation, and provide assistance in prescribing tobacco control medications. Tobacco use screening was nearly universal (96%), and showed 5.87% current use overall. Among patients who were smokers, 7.92% were African American, 17.61% were Hispanic, 5.18% were Asian/Pacific Islanders, and 44.09% were non-Hispanic white. Current tobacco use was more prevalent in the community sites than in the academic center and more prevalent in minority patients in community sites. Clinician attitude surveys at the academic center versus community sites revealed similar importance of tobacco cessation, feeling that continued smoking adversely impacted treatment outcomes, referral of patients for cessation, and need for increased training in tobacco control and cessation. Clinicians at the community site with the highest rate of tobacco use and greatest percent of non-white patients, Antelope Valley, expressed the highest need for training into availability of tobacco control services and program support. Conclusions: Tobacco use is widely perceived by clinicians as an important component of cancer treatment, but requires increased resource allocation and leadership, especially at sites with higher tobacco use and greater percentage of racial/ethnic minorities, and worse social determinants of health. Among resources important for tobacco control, multi-level champions (e.g. physicians, nurses, and advanced practice providers) can help promote and implement a TUCP in both academic centers and community sites. Citation Format: Cary A. Presant, Kimlin Tam Ashing, Sophia Yeung, Jonjon Macalintal, Brian Tiep, Argelia Sandoval, Dan Raz, Ravi Salgia, Loretta Erhunmwunsee, Arya Amini, Amar Merla, Heather Graves, Ranjan Pathak, Shaira Dingal, TingTing Tan, Kelly Tarkeshian, Liana Nikolaenko, Kathleen Burns, Sagus Sampath, Beverly Laksana, Steven Rosen. Use of clinician and nurse tobacco cessation champions to implement a tobacco control program in a geographically disseminated academic center-led clinical network analyzed by patient racial/ethnic group [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-011.

Implementing Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool to Improve Patient Outcomes and Staff Communication

Implementing Bedside Mobility Assessment Tool to Improve Patient Outcomes and Staff Communication

How To Hospital: barriers to developing a patient ‘Hospital Survival Guide’ to support information transfer during ward-rounds on the patient journey from admission to hospital to discharge

Clinicians can enable patients to actively participate in their care but communication with patients is often poor and highly variable. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ understanding...

Study of Urban Community Emergency Management in Huizhou, China

This paper focuses on the study of urban community emergency management in Huizhou, China. An index system for urban community emergency management evaluation which has two levels is established in the study. The index system consists of six primary indicators and twenty-two secondary indicators. The weights of the indicators are determined by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The established evaluation system is used to evaluate the emergency management ability of a community called Xuefu Community in Huizhou, China. Purpose sampling is used in the evaluation. A questionnaire with twenty-three questions is designed and all community staff are invited to answer the questionnaire. Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation method is adopted to calculate the scores and resulted are analysed. Suggestions are given to the Xuefu Community and local government based on the analysis.

Abstract PO-028: Successful implementation of Latina breast health programs: A multi-stakeholder analysis to answer a multilevel question

Abstract Background: Multiple interventions have been developed to address Latina-White breast cancer (BC) disparities. Yet, little is known about what drives successful implementation, resulting in limited and less successful translation to practice. Engaging participants, community staff, and academicians in program evaluation may enhance identification of factors driving implementation, given differences in lived experience and intervention roles. Objective: We engaged 20 Latina participants, 3 community health workers (CHWs), and 3 research staff to identify determinants of: (1) intervention appropriateness (extent to which interventions addressed BC disparities), (2) feasibility (extent to which intervention delivery/participation was possible), and (3) acceptability (extent to which interventions were satisfactory). Method: The “Empowering Latinas to Obtain Breast Cancer Screenings” trial compared the efficacy of two interventions on BC screening uptake among 142 Latinas who were non-adherent to US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) BC screening guidelines. Both interventions employed CHWs with personal/family history of BC to deliver 3 group sessions and refer patients to navigation services. The current study focuses on a qualitative program evaluation of the trial. All participants completed audio-recorded semi-structured interviews. A sample question was “What helped make it possible to participate in/lead the intervention?.” We conducted deductive content analysis, guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Science, on verbatim transcripts. Results: Emergent themes suggest distinct multilevel determinants of different implementation outcomes. Intervention acceptability and appropriateness were driven by (1) characteristics at intervention (e.g., adaptability to personal needs – e.g., personalized literacy assistance; addressing diverse barriers to BC screening); (2) characteristics of the CHW interventionists (e.g., information delivered via BC survivors' personal experiences); and, (3) characteristics of organizations (e.g., trusted service providers). Intervention feasibility was driven by (1) organizational (e.g., intervention compatibility with mission; clear delineated a priori tasks for intervention delivery) and (2) partnership characteristics (e.g., strength of relationships between academics, community leaders, and clinical navigation BC services). Differences in stakeholder perspectives aligned with their lived experiences. For example, participants' personal challenges with BC screening, CHWs' past experiences leading BC programs, and researchers' awareness of past research on BC disparities affected perceptions about intervention appropriateness. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the value of multi-stakeholder analysis and specify the types of intervention and study team characteristics that are needed to make interventions appropriate, acceptable, and feasible for Latina-White BC equity. Citation Format: Yamilé Molina, Perla Chebli, Stephanie A. Torres, Joanna Olazar, Jeanette Olazar, Katherine Reyes, Juanita Arroyo, Maria Medina, Nora Coronado, Araceli Lucio, Garth H. Rauscher, Lauren Green, Pamela Ganschow, Candyce H. Kroenke, Marc Atkins. Successful implementation of Latina breast health programs: A multi-stakeholder analysis to answer a multilevel question [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Conference: 14th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2021 Oct 6-8. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-028.

Early positive approaches to support for families of young children with intellectual disability: the E-PAtS feasibility RCT

Background Parents of children with intellectual disability are 1.5–2 times more likely than other parents to report mental health difficulties. There is a lack of clinically effective and cost-effective group well-being interventions designed for family carers of young children with intellectual disability. Aim To examine the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Early Positive Approaches to Support (E-PAtS) intervention. Design A feasibility study (including randomisation of families into a two-arm trial), questionnaires to assess the feasibility of proposed outcome measures (including resource use and health-related quality of life) and practitioner/family carer interviews. An additional question was included in an online UK survey of families, conducted by the research team to assess usual practice, and a survey of provider organisations. Setting Families recruited from community contexts (i.e. third sector, local authority services, special schools) and self-referral. The E-PAtS intervention was delivered by trained community-based providers. Participants Families with at least one child aged 1.5–5 years with an intellectual disability. At least one parent had to have English-language ability (spoken) for E-PAtS programme participation and participants had to provide informed consent. Interventions E-PAtS intervention – two caregivers from each family invited to eight 2.5-hour group sessions with usual practice. Usual practice – other support provided to the family, including other parenting support. Objectives To assess randomisation willingness/feasibility, recruitment of providers/parents, retention, usual practice, adherence, fidelity and feasibility of proposed outcome measures (including the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale as the proposed primary outcome measure, and parent anxiety/depression, parenting, family functioning/relationships, child behavioural/emotional problems and adaptive skills, child and parent quality of life, and family services receipt as the proposed secondary outcome measures). Results Seventy-four families (95 carers) were recruited from three sites (with 37 families allocated to the intervention). From referrals, the recruitment rate was 65% (95% confidence interval 56% to 74%). Seventy-two per cent of families were retained at the 12-month follow-up (95% confidence interval 60% to 81%). Exploratory regression analysis showed that the mean Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale well-being score was 3.96 points higher in the intervention group (95% confidence interval –1.39 to 9.32 points) at 12 months post randomisation. High levels of data completeness were achieved on returned questionnaires. Interviews (n = 25) confirmed that (1) recruitment, randomisation processes and the intervention were acceptable to family carers, E-PAtS facilitators and community staff; (2) E-PAtS delivery were consistent with the logic model; and (3) researchers requesting consent in future for routine data would be acceptable. Recorded E-PAtS sessions demonstrated good fidelity (96% of components present). Adherence (i.e. at least one carer from the family attending five out of eight E-PAtS sessions) was 76%. Health-related quality-of-life and services receipt data were gathered successfully. An online UK survey to assess usual practice (n = 673) showed that 10% of families of young children with intellectual disability received any intervention over 12 months. A provider survey (n = 15) indicated willingness to take part in future research. Limitations Obtaining session recordings for fidelity was difficult. Recruitment processes need to be reviewed to improve diversity and strategies are needed to improve primary outcome completion. Conclusions Study processes were feasible. The E-PAtS intervention was well received and outcomes for families were positive. A barrier to future organisation participation is funding for intervention costs. A definitive trial to test the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of E-PAtS would be feasible. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN70419473. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme and will be published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 10, No. 2. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

THE SPECIFICITIES OF COMMUNICATION IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

The major advances in medicine, in particular pharmacotherapy or medical technology and devices, have not improved condition of cardiovascular disease. Objective: the ways to improve the quality of patient care and decrease the number of patients with CVD is to improve cooperation from the perspective of the health care provider – patient – health care provider. Own text: the communication of the medical staff with the patient without mistakes. Conclusion: effective communication between the patient and the medical staff has a great impact on patient satisfaction.

СОЦІАЛЬНІ ІННОВАЦІЇ У ФОРМУВАННІ ЛЮДСЬКОГО КАПІТАЛУ

The article considers and summarizes the theoretical and methodological principles of studying social innovations and their impact on the formation of human capital. Technical and economic and social innovations are characterized, features of social innovations in comparison with technical and economic are revealed. Criteria of social and innovative activity are revealed. The essence of social innovations from the point of view of different approaches which are the result of generalization of existing theoretical researches is defined in the work. The proposed strategic directions of implementation of social innovations on human capital at the business level will be the basis for focusing on achieving such strategic goals of sustainable development, for example: increasing the value of human capital; increase employee income; increasing the administrative capacity of management; increase the market value of the business and increase the efficiency of the whole company. The following social innovations can develop in the labor market: remote employment; flexible form of employment; freelance; borrowed work. The main catalysts for the formation of human capital during the fourth industrial revolution will be cloud technology, development of methods for collecting and analyzing Big Data, crowdsourcing, consumer economics, biotechnology, drones and medicine based on 3D printing, artificial intelligence. The study revealed key vectors of social innovation in human capital: the use of modern tools for training, retraining, advanced training, the formation of effective incentives and self-development of employees; development and implementation of methods and tools of the organization's personnel management strategy; creation of corporate culture based on the formation (renewal) of common corporate values that will promote the unity and integration of company employees; introduction of new management methods and approaches aimed at meeting the needs of staff and individualism of employees; formation of social clusters for practical training of professional staff (in business organizations, social enterprises, local communities, educational institutions and research centers).

The Image of Nurses and Midwives in Ghana: Patient and Family Perspectives

This study aims to explore the perceptions of patients and family caregivers on the image of nurses and midwives in Ghana. The study adopted a qualitative exploratory descriptive approach. A total of 25 participants were interviewed during data collection. Content and thematic analysis were applied in the data analysis to develop themes. The findings are captured under two major themes that describe the primary influences on participant images of nurses: Thus, (1) nurses’ and midwives’ attributes with four subthemes; staff appearance, communication strategies and behaviors, work attitudes, and professional competence and (2) patients’ status and subthemes were; uneducated poor and educated rich. We conclude that patients and families in Ghana recognize the professional attributes of the nurse and midwife, which reflect in their personality, grooming, communication, competencies, and attitudes. However, low publicity of the professional roles of nurses and midwives may have negative repercussions for their professional image. A policy to perform a regular public audit on the image of the Nurse/Midwife is important for professional advancement.

High and low performing schools in South Africa: Metaphors as a lens to understand teachers’ views of school organisation

• Teachers in both low and high performing schools use the same four metaphors to describe their school organisation: family, factory, hospital and warzone. • These vary however according to their lived experiences, including those outside of the school (e.g. family relations). • Metaphors also vary within the school according to teacher's wider roles and responsibilities and students they teach, while different metaphors are used for different aspects of the school organisation. • Given their influence on school staff behaviours, their decision-making and communication, metaphors provide an important lens through which to understand the wide disparity in school quality and performance in South Africa.

Procurement Practice of Program Drugs and Its Challenges at the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency: A Mixed Methods Study.

BackgroundEffective drug procurement guarantees the sustainable supply of products for health and eliminates excessive costs. However, there is limited information on the area of pharmaceutical procurement practice in Ethiopia. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the procurement practices of program drugs and its challenges at the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Agency.MethodsA cross-sectional study accompanied by qualitative assessment was conducted between February 21 and April 20/2020 to examine the procurement practice of the Ethiopian pharmaceutical supply agency. The quantitative data were gathered by reviewing documents and electronic records. Mean forecast error, price paid to international price reference, number of emergency orders placed, and lead time variability were the measurements used to assess the procurement practice. A statistical package for the social sciences version 23 was used to analyze the data. The results were then summarized using tables and texts. The qualitative data were collated through face-to-face in-depth interviews to explore the challenges behind the procurement practice. And the data were analyzed manually using the thematic analysis technique.ResultsThe agency had its own procurement list which defines the items to be procured. The overall mean forecast error in the 2018/19 budget year was 27.8%. Of the 70 program commodities included in the study, 52 (74.3%) items had a mean price less than the international price reference. Three of the 14 orders (21.4%) placed in the aforementioned year were emergency purchases made through direct procurement. The mean lead time for the suppliers of the agency was 137.3 days. Poor data quality from service delivery points, staff capacity constraints, communication problems, and policy issues became the major challenges to implement an effective procurement system in the agency.ConclusionThe procurement practice at the agency has strong side. However, it was not without weaknesses. Using a procurement list is a worthwhile practice. Despite this, much remains to improve lead times and forecasting accuracy.

Investigating the Role of Empathy in Psychological Capital Impact on Stress Caused by Contracting COVID-19 in Nurses: A Case Study of Nurses of Tehran Oil Hospital

Background: Rapid transmission and sudden outbreak of new coronavirus have caused widespread stress among the community and treatment staff. Regarding the consecutive peaks of the disease, its persistence stress, in the long run, creates destructive effects and leads to physical weakness and psychological complications. Hence, the present study seeks to find proper ways to promote psychological capital and reduce the stress of contracting COVID-19 with the mediating role of empathy. Materials and Methods: The present research was an applied and analytical study. It is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2020. The study’s statistical population comprised 510 nurses working in Tehran Oil Industry Hospital. Using a simple random sampling method and Krejcie and Morgan table, a sample of 160 was selected. The data collection tool was a standard questionnaire whose validity and reliability have been confirmed. For data analysis, we used the structural equation modeling method and the Pearson correlation test to examine the relationship between variables. Results: The findings showed the significant and direct effect of psychological capital on empathy and a significant inverse impact of both empathy and psychological capital on the stress of contracting COVID-19 in nurses. The mediating role of empathy in the relationship between psychological capital and contracting COVID-19 stress was also confirmed. Conclusion: Accordingly, by promoting the components of psychological capital in nurses, the hospital managers can prepare them for daily stress during the coronavirus epidemic. Also, by strengthening the empathy indicators in employees along with psychological capital, the tensions related to this disease can be overcome more than ever.

Health service costs of treating venous leg ulcers in the UK: evidence from a cross-sectional survey based in the north west of England

ObjectivesTo estimate and examine the direct healthcare costs of treating people with open venous leg ulcers in the UK.DesignCost-of-illness study.SettingA cross-sectional survey of nine National Health Service community locales over...

Kultura szkoły – wyzwanie dla włączającego kształcenia

The article focuses on the issues of inclusive education and school culture. The main aim of the article is to introduce the concept of inclusive education and to reflect on the meaning of building the orga- nizational culture of school for the shaping of educational paths of students with disabilities and their functioning in peer relations. The literature analysis clearly shows that a large percentage of students with disabilities (approx. 30%) change their first-choice school (mainstream) to another one during their education. The data showing a low position of a student with a disability in the classroom are disturbing. It seems that building the organizational culture of an inclusive school will be an important factor of positive change in this case. Basing it on values, norms and standards of practice that, as internalized beliefs and attitudes of the entire school community (staff, students and parents) will create conditions for the individual and social development of all students.

60 Talking Under Cover: A Virtual Workshop to Improve Communication in PPE

Since 15 June 2020, all hospital staff were mandated by the government to wear a facemask in hospital and it looks like they will remain a permanent feature in healthcare for the foreseeable future. There is a significant body of research about the plethora of adverse effects that wearing masks can have on verbal communication The aim of the study was to develop an interactive virtual workshop aims to improve the verbal communication of healthcare staff whilst wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).We delivered 14 workshops from March 2021 to May 2021 to 80 participants. First, we discussed the barriers that healthcare workers are up against when they are working in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and then speak about vocal anatomy and how speech is created. The workshop then focusses on how to make speech clearer whilst also advising healthcare staff on how to look after their voice. To ensure the workshop is interactive, there are a number of exercises that the participants perform and videos of COVID cardiac arrest simulations are used to discuss the potential speech and communication errors in PPE which could affect patient safety in an emergency. Finally, we also incorporated a patient’s perspective in designing this course. They offered very helpful suggestions regarding verbal and non-verbal communication when communicating with patients in PPE, which are often overlooked by healthcare professionals but immensely valuable to improve patients’ and staff experience.We invited hospital departments to book on to the virtual training and collected electronic feedback from participants. As a result of this feedback, we hope to be able to provide face-to-face training in the future and incorporate simulation in the workshops so that participants can practice what they have learnt with higher fidelity and we are better able to understand how the added burden of cognitive bandwidth will influence people’s communication.

From the president's desk: #EndCCStigma: Social media as a tool to change public perception of 2‐year colleges

AbstractThis article tells the story of the #EndCCStigma social media campaign and podcast. Created by a community college president, this grassroots effort to elevate the public perception of community colleges is comprised of a Twitter hashtag, a news aggregation algorithm, and a podcast series. In addition to delving into the concept of “stickiness” within these marketing efforts, which refers to ideas that are, among other things, simple, unexpected and emotional, the three‐part theory of the campaign is analyzed. Local and national news stories that were aggregated as part of the campaign are highlighted as case studies. Direct transcriptions from the podcast series are shared to provide extensive first‐hand voices of community college students, faculty, staff, and advocates. The article ends with an examination of recent national data on community college stigma, as well as the results of a survey on a community college campus conducted by students themselves.

Butterfly Garden Connects Community Living Center Residents, Family, and Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 Pandemic has led to significant morbidity and mortality in older residents of long-term care facilities. In addition, the stringent restrictions on visitation of family and loved ones has further socially isolated residents leading to an increase in depression, loneliness, and spiritual distress. The Community Living Center (CLC) staff at West Palm Beach VA Medical Center wanted to address this dilemma and created a unique “Butterfly Garden” (BG) visitation space. This space is a therapeutic garden adjacent to the CLC that can be accessed by families without having to enter the facility. Participants in the BG reported feelings of peace, undisturbed reflection, and tranquility as they observed and experienced nature’s life cycle. This show of nature’s beauty promotes visual, tactile, and olfactory sensory stimulation while attracting hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and peace to this calm garden space. The BG visitations offers residents, family, and staff opportunities to experience the health benefits of nature during their visits under strict CDC social contact guidelines. From September through December 2020 and from January through March 2021 there were 67 and 184 visits respectively as families became more involved. The feedback from residents, families, and staff indicated that the spirits of all participants were raised by the BG visits despite the difficult challenges of social distancing and limited CLC visitations. This BG concept could serve as a model for other long-term care facilities to allow socially distant family visits to loved ones in a safe nature-based environment of care with or without a pandemic.

Project VITAL: A Statewide Initiative Using Technology to Impact Social Isolation

Project VITAL leverages customized technology to enhance connection, engagement, education and support to individuals with dementia and their caregivers. The goal was to positively impact social isolation, stress, and well-being and help mitigate the effects of isolation experienced during the pandemic and beyond. Phase One included three components designed to impact connection, engagement, education and support. It’s Never Too Late provided 300 customized tablets to 150 care communities to facilitate connections to family members and increase individualized, person-centered engagement. Project ECHO, a video-based learning platform, educated and supported care community staff. Virtual education and support were offered to family caregivers at home. Phase Two provided the program to an additional 150 care communities and added online professional training/certification. Phase Three focuses on 150 family caregivers and individuals with dementia living at home. In addition to connection and individualized engagement, family caregivers now had direct access to virtual programs and services.