b"ADMISSIONSAs a result of the new project, there was a shift in the RSWs' work from clerical to clinical. Rather than overseeing admissions, the RSWs could focus primarily on resident and family mental health, well-being and psychosocial support.RSWs are health professionals with four or more years ofwhich can help reduce rates of depression, anxiety and specialized university education and have been trainedmood disorders, notes McNally.to assess, diagnose and treat individuals to support their mental health. In contrast, RSSWs have two years of collegeBased on the success of the pilot project, there is potential education and focus on more supportive counsellingfor it to expand, including future consideration within and practical help such as service navigation. Both areExtendicare's Model of Care.recognized by the professional regulatory body, the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers. OurMcNally, who also sits on the Long-Term Care scopes are different, says McNally, But RSWs and RSSWsSubcommittee Advisory Board of the OASW, is advocating work together and make for a great team. as part of that committee for more provincial funding andIn addition to being an RSW and psychotherapist, McNallyto make the RSW role consistent across all homes inis the Ethics Practice Leader on Extendicares Nationalthe province.Ethics Services Team (NEST) and has been a leader in pioneering solutions to better support residents. She notesMcNally says the feedback to the project has been fantastic that the pandemic highlighted the need for RSWs to provideand she has heard from others reaching out about how to psychotherapy services to support residents. employ a similar strategy at their long-term care homes. Thats why were sharing the success of the project, and We have a lot of mental health diagnoses in long-term carehow we made it happen, she says. Well keep making which are increasingly more complex, that we didn't seeit even better, and the difference for those we serve is before. Our residents can benefit from formalized consultingextremely rewarding.LTCTTHE NEXT GENERATION IN PATIENT TOILETING & SHOWERING: ENSURING SAFE TRANSFERS FOR RESIDENTS & SUPPORT WORKERS.EZEE LIFE SHOWER AND COMMODE CHAIRS: THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR INTRODUCING THE NEW MULTIFUNCTION TRANSFERELECTRIC LIFT SHOWER/COMMODE CHAIR: DESIGNEDYOUR NURSING OR RETIREMENT HOME NEEDS. WEVE GOT YOU COVERED. FOR SAFER TRANSFERS FOR CLIENTS & CARE WORKERSHL170 HL180 HL190 CH3075 CH307634 Futurity Gate, Unit # 15 Concord, Ontario L4K 1S6wk: 416-739-1267 |Toll Free: 1-888-634-5808| fx: 416-739-7171 email: info@hpurehab.com | www.hpurehab.comwww.oltca.com LONG TERM CARE TODAY 59"