Adviser Winter 2019-20 LeadingAge New York Adviser LeadingAge NewYork Winter 2019-20 | Page 11
Feature
Meeting the Needs of an Inclusive Setting
Kristina Labaty, Lead Advocate, Camphill Ghent, Inc.
L
ast year, Camphill Ghent was honored
with the Hobart Jackson Award for
Inclusion from LeadingAge. Inclusion is
a way of life to which we are very much
committed. We find ourselves finding ways
to meet the needs of our developmentally
different elders. Likewise, we find ways in
which we might engage those residents
who benefit increasingly from one-on-one
attention. One way in which we strive
to meet these challenges is through a
new, innovative approach to in-service
training sessions. Another way to meeting
increasing emotional needs is through
developing social connections.
This year, we launched a series of in-service
trainings that are mandatory for the
home health aides we have on staff. These
trainings both satisfy the obligatory
content required by New York State for
individuals to maintain their home health
aide certification and help us generate new
content to bring the specific approaches we
value in Camphill Ghent. The trainings that
encompass our special way of approaching
elders are held under the auspices of The
Camphill Academy, a national organization
that brings about educational experiences
for those who work in Camphill settings.
So far, we have received much positive
feedback regarding these new trainings.
In addition to providing trainings specific
to our approach, we have made it our task
to recognize and create solutions to the
increasing social needs of our elders. For
example, for those who do not have any
family nearby, we make special trips and
outings possible. Our executive director,
Onat Sanchez, recently took a trip to
Boston, Massachusetts with one of our
residents, Bill Rosecan, and another staff
member. While Bill’s older family members
are no longer able to take him on vacation,
he still loves to get away every now and
then. Everyone had a great time!
Another example is that a couple times a
year, Nick Francaschelli, one of our care
providers, takes one of our residents to
the train station in Brooklyn. This is an
event that the resident enjoys very much.
Meeting the emotional needs of our
developmentally different friends does
indeed require openness and innovation.
It is not only the individuals from
Camphill Ghent’s assisted living home who
benefit from this inclusive setting – our
independent living residents also benefit
from the new social forms we bring about.
We have fun
We find ourselves finding ways to meet the
groups like a
needs of our developmentally different elders.
hand chimes
choir and a
German Language group, which are open
to all. Some of these are even hosted
by independent residents. This kind of
social innovation is crucial in helping
the community to develop its identity
as a whole. After all, Camphill Ghent is
an inclusive community, and we like to
celebrate both the differences and the
capacities of everyone who chooses to
make it their home.
As we move into
2020, we want to
thank LeadingAge
for recognizing the
uniqueness of our
inclusive setting and
hope to learn from
other members and
what they have been
doing that is new.
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