b'MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESSA glimmer of HOPEBCs Helping Optimize our People Energy (HOPE)online modules address burnoutS taff burnout and staff retention have become hotUnderstand the different elements of mental health topics in health care. Interdisciplinary staff working inand well-being.long-term care are presented with multiple challengesUnderstand and identify how to incorporate the due to the recent COVID-19 crisis and to increasing numbers of residents dying in long-term care. practices of self-awareness, mindfulness and physical/mental recovery at work.A series of HOPE (Helping Optimize our People Energy) modules were developed in 2022 by a team Express how nurturing resilience can help recoverof interdisciplinary frontline clinicians and researchersfrom burnout.in collaboration with input from experts in the fields ofAct on "taking time to say goodbye" and initiatingpalliative and relationship-centred care/team wellness todebriefings after a residents death.try to address these issues.A highlight of this module is Dr. David Kuhl, an expert in The HOPE modules evolved from a three-phase study.relationship-centred care/team wellness, talking about The first phase of the work, conducted prior to the COVIDrelationship-centred care and explaining how all of our pandemic, highlighted that almost 50% of interdisciplinaryrelationships are reciprocal. The emotional connections long-term care staff participants were experiencingand positive relationships that staff form with residents significant levels of emotional exhaustion, a strongand their families enables the best care and exposes indicator of burnout. Concern about burnout prompted astaff to occupational hazard of grief and other complex second study in 2017-18, in which participants were askedemotions when a resident declines or dies. This can lead to to describe the challenges they experienced regardingunresolved grief/emotional exhaustion/burnout if not dealt dying and death in long-term care facilities and thewith in a timely way.supportive strategies that might reduce the risk of burnout. The study was based on individual staff interviews andIncreasing exhaustion in the workplace not only affects our focus groups including a wide range of disciplines workingphysical and mental/psychological well-being, but also our in long-term care. Phase three of the study, including therelationships with colleagues, residents and their families, module development, builds on findings from two and ultimately the quality of care staff are able to provide. previous phases.Dr. Kuhl suggests using a visual image of plexiglass Significant changes have occurred in long-term care overbetween the caregiver and the resident. The image serves the last decade, particularly that residents often have veryto "protect" us as caregivers from absorbing the pain complex health conditions and require a high level of careand trauma of those we work with. We can maintain the (often palliative). The HOPE modules highlight the needimage as a boundary while we focus on understanding the to nurture both individual and team resilience and providefeelings, experiences, and behaviours of the resident, rather supportive strategies for both. than focusing on our own emotional responses. It allows Module 1: Supporting the individual us to be fully present to meet their needs.The first online module features the warning signs ofModule 2: Supporting the teamburnout and provides supportive strategies to promoteThe second module features building and nurturing recovery, self-care and resilience. The module aims to helpteam relationships, effective team communication, team individuals to: support, building and nurturing relationships with family, Understand the multiple challenges long-term care staffeffective communication with family, supporting familiesface when working in long-term care.and supporting the resident at end of life. Understand the multiple challenges staff face whenThe goal of the second module is to help team members: caring for dying residents. Understand what it means to be on the same page withUnderstand the symptoms of burnout and identify yourcolleagues, with the goals, objectives and values ofown signs of burnout. your program. 22 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Spring/Summer 2023'