“Walk In My Shoes”

1. “Walk In My Shoes” Cindy Stephens, Director of Nursing, Cummer Lodge James Sejjengo, Resource Manager, Reena

2. Building Bridges and Bridging Gaps • The Toronto Partnership on Aging and Developmental Disability – TPADD’s aims: • To establish and maintain a regional cross sector process on aging and developmental disabilities. • To provide leadership at the regional level on partnership development between the Long Term Care and Developmental Services sectors.

3. Building Bridges and Bridging Gaps • The Toronto Partnership on Aging and Developmental Disability – TPADD’s aims: • To promote quality of life and adaptation to the aging process for all adults with a developmental disability through cross sector planning and knowledge exchange. • To promote equal access and quality of life

4. Building Bridges and Bridging Gaps – 1st Conference – Nov. 2007 • At the conference described how the committee learned about the “other” sector by spending time with “other” sector • An outcome to the first regional conference was requests to learn more about the “other” sector through a “walk in my shoes day”

5. “Walk In My Shoes” Day • Sixteen (16) individuals from both sectors participated in the “Walk in my Shoes” Day. Key Elements: • The day was a success and educational. • Discoveries of similarities between the two sectors as well as CCAC and education • Appreciation of each sector’s values and philosophies • Different ways of delivering services

6. “Walk In My Shoes” Day • Offer choice of where they would want to visit • Matched with a person with a similar position in “other” sector • Some people sent staff for a whole day, some partial (sending agency was responsible for their own staff’s pay)

7. Participant Evaluations • As a result of “Walk in my Shoes” I have developed a better understanding of the roles and perspectives of other stakeholders in both sectors

8. Participant Evaluations • I developed a better understanding of clients in both sectors • Increased awareness • the complexity of individuals supported by the DS sector was an eye opener • The home environment in the LTC home was an eye opener for DS sector staff

10. Participant Evaluations • The “Walk in my Shoes” provided a good opportunity to communicate and exchange information with individuals within the two sectors

11. Participant Evaluations • The “Walk in my Shoes” has helped to foster partnerships and improve collaboration among stakeholders and groups that are involved in the Long Term Care and Developmental sectors.

12. Participant Evaluations • “I have more insight into the needs of residents with a developmental disability and the difficulties they and their families will have moving into a Long Term Care Home.”

13. Participant Evaluations • Workshops for frontline staff on working with individuals with a developmental disability and behavioural issues are needed. • This became a topic for the second regional conference – Oct. 2008

14. Workshops and Seminars • Theme: • Building Bridges and Bridging Gaps • These have been invaluable resources for staff and families in the two sectors • For Networking • Identifying barriers to services • Experiential learning • Understanding one another’s language/jargon • Comparisons of support models

15. Cross Sector Collaboration • Willingness to enter into cross sector partnership arrangements varies among jurisdictions in Ontario. • Access to services for senior citizens is unequal across the province suggesting there are barriers to access in some jurisdictions.

17. Best Practices Via: • Cross sector planning processes. • Local cross sector initiatives. • Dialogue with Local Health Integrated Networks (LHIN’s). • Dialogue with Ministry of Community and Social Services and Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

19. Thank-You! Cindy Stephens, phone: 416 392-9520, e-mail: cstephen@toronto.ca James Sejjengo, phone: 905-889-2690 x 2045, e-mail: jsejjengo@reena.org