b"MENTAL HEALTHMental health in long-term careThe magic in partnershipBy Caitlin Germond & Arro Barry Caitlin Germond Arro BarryI n part, this story is about mentalWe started this work with a needsthe expertise of both organizations to health, but more so, its aboutassessment to get a sense of whereenhance resident care and build self-communityboth our long-termwe were and where we needed to go.efficacy within our team.care community and the greaterWe knew the problem and solution community in which our long-termwas larger than just our organization,So, what did we do? We embedded care homes reside. This story is aboutso we asked ourselves, How can wetwo CMHA-S/M staff members into our collective impact and the power ofcreate meaningful change in a timelyorganization for a year. The aim of this community to work together to solveway? The answer was found in one ofyear is to develop a standard of work complex problems. our community partners and experts inthat includes policies and procedures, mental healththe Canadian Mentalfrom admission planning to direct In January 2022, our CEO at St.Health Association, Sudbury/Manitoulincare and some recommendations Josephs Health Centre of Sudbury(CMHA-S/M). We reached out withfor ongoing change. This standard of engaged in Dialogues for Mission, aour need and our vision and the stepswork will train and support staff and month in which she dedicates timetoward formal collaboration began. residents through developing and to meeting with staff at our long-termimplementing care plans and mental care homes, Villa St. Gabriel Villa andAt this point, acting fast meanthealth strategies. To facilitate this, we St. Josephs Villa, to engage in deepinvesting time in building connections,developed structures for consistent listening. From these dialogues, itclearly defining our vision, andand open communication, mutually became clear that staff were strugglingdeveloping a shared understanding.agreed upon process and outcome to meet the care needs of residentsCMHA-S/M prioritizes providing safe,indicators, and the flexibility to alter living with mental health conditions. Atinclusive and accessible mental healththe aim based on emerging needs, the same time, our larger communityand substance use services to all. Thisresources and learnings. was recognizing the unique needs ofcollaboration presented an opportunity older adults living with severe mentalto strengthen their communityTo date, we are halfway through health concerns and their risk for support, especially for older adultsour year together and are pleased being precariously housed. Guidedwith severe mental health concernsto report that the project is growing by our mission, we knew we neededwhose progressive chronic diseaseand changing to include new to take action to address the unmetneeds exceeded the scope of theirpositions, mental health leads needs of our staff, our residents and care capacity. This partnership allowedand a mental health coordinator. our community. us to create a shared vision, leveragingThis expansion further champions change management and supports sustainability. We can also share that there is a synergy from this partnership that adds to the energy and excitement for the next six months of work, leaving us optimistic about the future.LTCTCaitlin Germond, MPH, is the Coordinator of Program Development and Outreach at the Canadian Mental Health Association-Sudbury/Manitoulin (sm.cmha.ca/) and Arro Barry is the Clinical Quality Lead at St. Joseph's Health Centre of CMHA and St. Joseph's Villa staff (back row) withSudbury (sjsudbury.com).residents in the home's Jim Ashcroft Healing Garden42 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Fall/Winter 2024"