This December wraps up with enthusiasm as the dedicated PGLO team continued to work hard to raise awareness of the needs of older adults living with frailty across Ontario. “It has been a whirlwind of engagement with enthusiastic partners” said Dr. Kelly Kay, Executive Director of PGLO. “This month alone, we have engaged with nearly 400 individuals, reflecting care partners, direct care providers, seniors mental health professionals and leaders in specialized clinical services for older adults”, noted Kay.
On December 4, PGLO hosted the 2024 Ontario Seniors Mental Health Forum, bringing 50 clinical and administrative leaders from across Ontario together in an interactive event to reflect on the future of Seniors’ Mental Health (SMH) services and the need for a SMH infrastructure to address the increasing demand from growing numbers of impacted older adults. The very next day, the PGLO team, in collaboration with Specialized Geriatric Services East, hosted the Specialized Clinical Services for Older Adults Senior Leadership Forum. This event convened 90 senior leaders, decision-makers, health system planners and lived experience advisors to explore the leadership skills needed in health and social care services for older adults living with complex health conditions.
December also saw the completion of the sixth cohort of PGLO’s high-demand virtual workforce training program – the Provincial Common Orientation to the Care of Older Adults. This training series for health and social care professionals combines on-line content (self-paced) and 11 weekly 90-minute sessions to discuss and apply content. Facilitation is led by expert interprofessional geriatric assessors. Topics are addressed through 23 interactive modules covering content ranging from normal aging, ageism and communication to screening, assessment, care planning and intervention across geriatric syndromes.
To date, the program has provided training to roughly 800 health and social care professionals representing more than 30 health professional roles (e.g. nurses, community paramedics, interprofessional team members etc.). Participants from approximately 160 organizations reflecting all health sectors, and all regions of Ontario have attended. “Learners in the program repeatedly report that the content is highly relevant and that it improves their professional satisfaction and the care they provide to older adults” said Kay. “We are already expecting another 144 participants in January, from 61 different organizations. This demonstrates the commitment of Ontario’s health and social care professionals and organizations to changing population health needs” she remarked.
The Provincial Common Orientation to the Care of Older Adults was created by Specialized Geriatric Services experts, under the leadership of PGLO, and is in its second year of delivery. The program is offered free-of-charge and organizations or health professionals interested in the program can contact info@geriatricsontario.ca. As the program is presently not funded by the Ministry of Health or Ontario Health, PGLO also welcomes sponsors to ensure the program can continue to be widely accessible. To explore sponsorship, please contact Dr. Kay at kelly.kay@geriatricsontario.ca.
PGLO also concluded its Fall cohort of the popular Caregiving Strategies series in December, a six-week facilitated series covering eight practical modules to support care partners to improve their knowledge, skill and confidence in caring for older adults. The Winter cohort of this popular series begins February 12 and registration is now open.
Finally, PGLO will close out the month with a webinar to support organizational and emergency department leaders who are currently implementing a new Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) program (including GEM nursing and other roles). In collaboration with experienced GEM program leaders from across Ontario, participants attending will learn more about developing and implementing a GEM program, covering content ranging from the organizational supports needed for implementation to the day-to-day processes of care that GEM team members carry out. With 50 participants already registered, and room for more, this event is expected to provide just-in-time information to managers supporting the implementation of this important emergency department role. Those interested can still register until December 19, 2024.