Sunnyside Home launches new approach to dementia care during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month

Waterloo Region – Sunnyside Home is poised to become the first long term care home in Waterloo Region certified in ‘The Butterfly Approach®’ with Meaningful Care Matters.

“Long term care has typically been about caring for people’s physical health,” said Peter Bewert, Managing Director of U.K.-based Meaningful Care Matters. “Our approach is about building relationships, because emotional wellbeing is just as important.”

‘The Butterfly Approach®’ will be adopted on Sunnyside’s two dementia care home areas. The changes will enable staff and residents to feel more like family and the space to feel more like home. There will be no uniforms, meals will be shared, and staff will be trained on how to make meaningful connections with residents at every opportunity.

Colour, texture, and objects will tell the stories of people who live at Sunnyside. Flowers may be placed outside the room of a woman who used to garden, or photos put up of a favorite travel destination that sparks warm feelings from cherished memories.

“Sunnyside is already getting to know each resident’s history, interests and abilities to keep them engaged,” said Connie Lacy, Director of Seniors’ Services at the Region of Waterloo. “‘The Butterfly Approach®’ will allow us to take this work to the next level. We are excited to move forward with an approach to care that supports our vision for residents to live their best life and for staff to feel more fulfilled in their work.”

Other long term care homes certified in this approach have reported positive results. This includes reduced use of anti-psychotic medications, less falls, and fewer cases of worsened depression as well as increased staff satisfaction and less sick time.

The project will be funded by the Sunnyside Foundation and the Region of Waterloo.

For an interview, please contact:

Lindsay Marinovic                                        

Co-Lead, Butterfly Certification                  

Seniors’ Services, Region of Waterloo         

519-893-8494 ext. 6377                                     

lmarinovic@regionofwaterloo.ca

Peter Bewert, RN       

Managing Director, Meaningful Care Matters

admin@meaningfulcarematters.com               

-30-