Peel Longterm Care: Butterfly Project

Summary

The transcript details the transformative impact of the Butterfly Household model of care for people with dementia. Introduced in Ontario in 2017, this model focuses on human connection, emotional engagement, and creating a home-like environment rather than a clinical facility. By replacing staff uniforms with everyday clothes and filling homes with meaningful items, the program fosters dignity, respect, and happiness for residents. Staff members prioritize moments over tasks, helping individuals feel loved and involved. This approach has revitalized both residents and staff, showing that people with dementia still have life, emotion, and valuable contributions to make.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Butterfly Household model of care focuses on treating people with dementia as individuals, recognizing their emotional connections and the need for meaningful engagement.
• 😀 Staff in the Butterfly program shift from uniforms to regular clothes, spend time learning about the residents, and focus on creating a homelike, intimate environment.
• 😀 Dementia care requires attention to emotional needs, not just clinical treatment. It’s about making people feel loved, respected, and engaged.
• 😀 Up to 80% of long-term care residents in Peel Region may have dementia, with numbers projected to rise, making dementia care an urgent issue.
• 😀 The lack of a cure for dementia makes caregiving even more vital, focusing on daily engagement, communication, and affection to reduce outbursts and aggression.
• 😀 Language in dementia care should shift from ‘patients’ to ‘people,’ and from ‘facility’ to ‘home’ to emphasize dignity and quality of life.
• 😀 Staff members in the Butterfly program are encouraged to use empathy and compassion, allowing them to connect with residents on a deeper, more personal level.
• 😀 People with dementia still have meaningful lives and can participate in activities like playing music, laughing, and having conversations.
• 😀 The Butterfly program has resulted in a more positive and engaging environment for both residents and staff, bringing them back to life.
• 😀 The approach taken by the Butterfly program shows that residents with dementia can live meaningful, engaged lives. The success of this program is inspiring for future care models.

Q & A

What was the initial experience of the speaker upon entering the long-term care facility?

The speaker initially observed a setting typical of long-term care, with people sitting in boredom in front of televisions and minimal interaction between staff and residents.

How did the speaker describe their aunt's behavior in the facility?

The speaker described their aunt as being very vicious toward both the staff and the other patients, even attacking them. She was also in a state of despair, often repeating that she had no home.

What change did the speaker notice in the facility after the introduction of the Butterfly Program?

The speaker noticed a dramatic transformation in the environment, where the facility no longer felt like a traditional care facility but rather a home, filled with warmth, affection, and engagement.

How does the Butterfly Program address the emotional needs of people with dementia?

The Butterfly Program focuses on recognizing that people with dementia still have strong emotional connections and are very much alive, emphasizing the importance of meaningful moments, emotional care, and personal connections.

What role did the staff play in the Butterfly Program's transformation?

Staff members traded in their scrubs for regular clothes, spent time learning about the people in their care, and filled the environment with meaningful objects connected to the residents' lives, fostering a more personalized, human-centered care approach.

How does the Butterfly Program differ from traditional care models in terms of resident engagement?

Unlike traditional care models that often focus on tasks, the Butterfly Program emphasizes moments, human connections, and individual needs, allowing residents to feel empowered and engaged in a way that respects their dignity.

What impact has the Butterfly Program had on the behavior of residents?

The program helped calm many residents, reducing behaviors such as pacing, agitation, and aggression, and allowing them to engage in more meaningful activities, leading to a happier and more comfortable environment.

Why is dementia considered an epidemic, and how does the Butterfly Program address this challenge?

Dementia is considered an epidemic because the risk of developing it increases significantly as people age, with a large portion of the population being affected. The Butterfly Program addresses this by focusing on individualized, compassionate care that enhances the quality of life for those living with dementia.

What was the initial reaction of staff and residents to the changes introduced by the Butterfly Program?

Both staff and residents experienced a revitalization, with staff members feeling more connected to their work and the residents showing a renewed sense of life, happiness, and engagement.

What is the long-term importance of the Butterfly Program for future generations?

The Butterfly Program is crucial because dementia rates are expected to rise, and the program emphasizes providing quality care and enhancing the lives of individuals with dementia. It is vital for the future of dementia care, as it highlights the importance of emotional connection, respect, and engagement.