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. leadingageny.org 10