innovation in social programming: it's time for change
DESCRIPTION
Does your social engagement program feel stale and boring? Are your residents doing the same thing every day? Explore how to assess your program, ignite innovation, and make change. Don’t get stuck in a rut. Breathe life back into your programs. Institutionalize innovation. Residents and families will notice. Joel Kroft ED of Memory Care Programs, Country Meadows Maria Nadelstumph Vice President of Organizational Development & Program Excellence, Brandywine Senior LivingTRANSCRIPT
Innovation In Social Programming:
It’s Time for Change
Joel Kroft Corporate Director of Alzheimer’s Programs, Country Meadows
Maria Nadelstumph Vice President of Organizational Development & Program Excellence
Brandywine Senior Living
May 6, 2015
Session Objectives Social Programming Defined Learn How To Assess “Quality” In Social
Programming Learn The Importance Of Innovation In Memory
Care Programming Learn Steps To Develop Strategic Program
Plans For Implementation Learn Methods For Successful Program
Integration
Social Programming & Memory Care
▶ What should Good Great Dementia Programming look like?
Why I Hate Bingo… And so should you!
Activities Social Engagement
What do you call it?
The Changing Nature of Activities…
What is Social Engagement?
▶ Four parts of Social Engagement
1. Intimate Social Relationships
2. Formal organized involvement
3. Active and Social Leisure
4. Passive and Solitary Leisure
Studies show: As Social Engagement goes
Quality of life also goes
What is Social Engagement?
What Do You Like To Do?
QUESTION:
What do you think you will want to do when you are
80 years-old?
QUESTION:
What do you think you will want to do when you are 80 years-old…
and have dementia?
▶ Increase your residents Quality of Life ▶ Decrease Behaviors ▶ Happy Families ▶ Happy Co-workers ▶ Create Meaning ▶ Connections
Why Bother with Social Engagement?
From : Filler & “Because Regs say we have to…”
The Evolving Nature of Social Engagement
To: This is the most effec-ve way we can improve our residents Quality of Life!
The Importance of Social
Engagement
If a shower is the best thing to happen
in your day, you have a Quality of
Life issue…
Joel’s Scientific Approach to Reviewing Social Engagement…
▶ How do your residents look? ▶ How does your STAFF look?
What does Social Engagement Look like?
How Many Residents Spend A Lot Of Time Alone?
▶ How many residents are with other residents…but the only thing they are sharing is boredom?
Social Engagement?
▶ When there are activities, are people really engaged?
Social Engagement?
Awake residents Alert and active co-workers Smiles Talking Relaxed bodies & muscles Inviting spaces
What Should You Be Looking For?
What Should You Be Looking For?
Things you don’t want to see:
▶ Sleeping ▶ Slumped postures ▶ Wandering away ▶ Bored co-workers ▶ Lots of distractions ▶ No or bad calendar ▶ Lots of waiting for something to happen
▶ A promise to families ▶ Is it displayed new each day? ▶ Does it always have the same activities listed? ▶ Does it match what you see happening? ▶ Does it have variety? ▶ Are there titles that you don’t know what they mean? ▶ Does it meet your resident’s needs? ▶ Would you feel good about sharing it here?
▶ Do you check it daily??????
The Calendar
▶ Right Residents ▶ Right Length ▶ Right Setting ▶ Right Energy ▶ Right Planning ▶ Right Time ▶ Right Staff
What Makes Good / Successful Social Programming?
Small Groups vs. Large Groups Is it the right small group?
Smaller isn’t always beBer…but most of the -me it is!
Can your residents successfully engage in a large group?
▶ Your team needs to be intentional in planning • Planning doesn’t just “happen”! • Does your team set aside time to plan…. • Or do they do it on the fly?
▶ What happens when we don’t plan? • Bingo • Word in a word • Trivia books…
Social Engagement Planning
Are you using the right space for the right program?
▶ Extra Noise ▶ Temperature ▶ Enough Space ▶ The Right Seating ▶ Lighting
Environment Matters!
Structured Environments ▶ Does the environment invite exploration? ▶ Are there things to engage
residents when staff aren’t leading a program? – Puzzles, books, etc.
▶ Are you comfortable in the environment?
▶ Is there an opportunity for Purposeful Service? ▶ Does your team take time to foster friendships
between residents? ▶ Are families involved? ▶ Do you have connections to the world?
Other Considerations
After Your Tour…
▶ Do you like what you see? ▶ Is it consistent? ▶ Is there more that could be done to improve the
Quality of Life for your residents?
▶ The path to innovation…
Is it Time for Change?
Re-Defining Your Social Program Quality=Brand
Innovation in Memory Care
Idea Generation
Who formulates program ideas in your organization/community?
How do ideas move from the suggestion box or email to the table?
What is your process?
Why is Innovation Important?
▶ Innovation keeps you competitive ▶ Innovation keeps the customer, resident, family
and team… intrigued and interested ▶ Keeps the program culture active in change
processes ▶ Strengthens your brand ▶ Creates vibrancy and quality in services
Why Does Innovation Fail?
▶ Only one or a few Innovators ▶ Not enough support. No buy in. ▶ We are doing “fine.” Why make changes? ▶ No planning or preparation ▶ Not enough time ▶ Missed step (s) in the Program Innovation process ▶ Seen as a disruption to operations ▶ Unable to see the need for change ▶ Do not assess the program
What Can You Do Now?
▶ Review Innovation needs in your program ▶ Develop an Innovation team ▶ Plan a “Think Tank” meeting (s) ▶ Identify top 3 Innovative program ideas ▶ Develop a plan for each idea and project
roadmap ▶ Get started-Follow the Three Steps!
Three Steps for Program Innovation
Development
Implementa-on
Integra-on
Development
De9ining Your Idea
▶ Program need ▶ Size and scope ▶ Impacts and Risks ▶ Feasibility ▶ Preparation and planning (what and
why) ▶ Involvement and buy in from key
stakeholders (Management, front line staff, families, etc.)
▶ Develop project roadmap (timeline) ▶ Brand/Logo
Implementation
Executing the Plan
▶ Role Out Plan (who, when, where, how?) ▶ Communication strategy ▶ Buy In and Key Stakeholder involvement/
orientation (operations) ▶ Pilot the program or “trial” ▶ 30-90 days
Integration
Evaluating the Results
▶ Review program with team
▶ Focus group/survey ▶ Checkpoint-Continuous
monitoring (what is working? what is not?)
▶ Adjust along the way
Tips for Success ▶ Don’t look backwards, look forward ▶ Bring others into your Innovation Think Tank ▶ Aim high with program development! ▶ Talk about lessons learned ▶ Focus on action ▶ Research other programs…what are we “not”
doing? ▶ Don’t benchmark on competitors, benchmark on
yourself
QUESTIONS?