“I am please to inform that installer came and installed both ABBY Boards on the units.

Our residents and staff love this device." 

– Activity Director, Norwood Care

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“We are thrilled to have the Abby Board available to us during our visits with our gramma/great-gramma. I can’t say enough about how this resource has impacted our visits each week. It has been a great addition each Sunday when we bring her great grandchildren to see her. This sensory tool/board has provided us with a great opportunity to interact and share tasks together. In particular, I was so overwhelmed with my grandmothers confidence and familiarity with manipulating the board. It is remarkable to see her take on the “teaching” role with her 4&5 year old great grandchildren as she is able to recall week after week the various activities that are available and then demonstrate them to the kids so that they can use them with her.  She is so proud to talk about her own pictures that rotate on the screen. As a granddaughter I am so appreciative that this resource exists for her, especially because the board is pre-loaded with tailored material geared towards her interests. She comes alive when she hears her favorite music, we all get to enjoy the clapping and smiles as she sings along and watch the kids dance their silly dances for her. Thank you so much to all the team at Gilmore Lodge for facilitating this resource and to whomever funded this initiative, we are tremendously grateful! Thanks again,

P.S. My grandfather at 92 enjoys the pictures on the board to use as a reminiscing tool  with his wife, when my mother takes him every Tuesday to visit her! " 

– Naomi, Fletcher & Jasper O’Brien

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“My husband takes please in showing our family pictures on ABBY to visiting family and friends.”

– Eleanor Villeneuve

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“ABBY is a nice way to enjoy our own personal photos and music that Nancey and I have enjoyed together”

– Frank Kubena 

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"The ABBY is wonderful. I love how personalized it can be. So interactive . You can really see the joy it brings seeing pictures of your friend and family  and listening to your favourite music. I wish there was a ABBY where my grandma is staying." 

– Deanna

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"On behalf of the residents, REC staff and Nursing Staff…… THANK YOU for ALL your support, wisdom, research and guidance in assisting me with receiving (2) TWO ABBYS for our Drayton Valley and Breton LTC sites.

Had to submit (resubmit) the request 3 times due to changes in protocol but I don’t have to tell you guys what it takes to get one of these precious treasures!  LOL

The feedback has been astounding! The staff and residents love them.

We are so elated and overjoyed. Grateful beyond words to the DV Hospital Auxiliary and Foundation.

Thank you both for all your help.

We are all very grateful 

I hope you and your families are healthy and are doing well thru this insanely painstaking pandemic.

Our AABYs couldn’t have arrived at a better time."

– Susan Larsen

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"Thank you very much for all of your support.

We started with one ABBY board, and have added three more since then.

We have two in the corridors on our “dementia unit” and we find these are wonderful for the residents.

Some will notice them as they pass by and simply begin to engage with the activities.  Usually listening to music, or driving  with the steering wheel.

Others will have time with the ABBY board as a part of their regular activity and they sit at the appropriate activities that are set up by the staff  for that resident.

We now have ABBY boards on all of our floors and we do find the same results.

ABBY provides activity and distraction that can be led by the residents and it brightens up their day.

We see marked results in improving responsive behaviours and they also help in de-escalating behaviours at specific times.

The staff also enjoy the addition of some music on the floors and have reported improved resident satisfaction.

p.s. They have been used so much during this pandemic as well."

– Janette West, Executive Director, APANS Health Services, Grace Villa

 

"ABBY

Finding meaningful and appropriate activity for PLWD is challenging due to the varied interests and abilities of each individual and the time constraints, lack of resources and knowledge long term care staff experience.  Utilizing a built in ability focused activity like ABBY results in increased resident engagement and enables staff to optimize resident participation through preloaded, person centered activities.  These activities consist of music, videos, games, nurturing and occupation based activities that promote freedom of choice, reminiscing, movement, and a sense of well-being through simple, logical and familiar leisure pursuits.   

I have been utilizing ABBY for several years as an approach addressing resident boredom and behavioural responses. I have observed positive outcomes; such as, increased staff autonomy when mitigating challenging behaviours, increased staff/resident interactions and increased knowledge of resident’s life history and preferences for leisure pursuits.  

 

G1 Products

Never underestimate the effect simple activities have on resident engagement.  G1 products aim to engage residents in simple problem solving, movement and occupation based activities that may be used therapeutically or recreationally.  G1 products are built into the environment enhancing the opportunity for resident engagement because they have a simple, intuitive design and are available 24/7 for resident activity.  Residents are naturally curious about the tasks associated with each activity and they experience a sense of satisfaction once they complete the activity.  I have found the G1 products to be functionally pleasing in layout and colour and they have proven to be effective activities for residents who are looking for in-the-moment engagement.  

 

Genie

If I learn nothing more from the effects this pandemic has on elders the one thing I will never forget is the social isolation felt by residents when separated from family.  Cultivating ways to support family connectedness has been time and staffing intensive because most elders are not social media savvy resulting in poorly coordinated virtual visits, lack of elder engagement and delayed responses.  Genie is designed with tech-based families and non-tech elders in mind.  Families utilize an APP which is conveniently downloaded to their phone allowing them to send in the moment media, messages and videos to their loved one who easily retrieves them through a simple, four step process.  Elders are able to save, review and even respond to the media enhancing that sense of connectedness with family.  

I have found Genie’s simple layout and design gives users a sense of confidence to access and respond to their messages with very little cuing required.  I am looking forward to using Genie to address social connectedness between family/friends and our residents in rural Ontario experiencing pandemic restrictions during the winter months."

– Judy

 

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