How can we create an electronic platform for families to better engage in the lives of their loved ones in long-term care facilities at the city?
Project Description: The City of Hamilton operates two long-term care homes – Macassa and Wentworth Lodge. Staff at the Lodges have identified that there is a need to improve the way in which information is communicated to families about residents in long-term care. With the presence of COVID-19, it is more important than ever that long-term care homes are keeping open communication with families on the status of the homes. It is also important to look for new and creative ways to connect families with their loved ones while still maintaining the safety of all residents, staff, and family members. The Lodges are interested in exploring opportunities to communicate with families in real time – for example through activity calendars where family members can see the activities their loved ones are engaged in daily.
The end goal for the Lodges would be to implement an electronic platform that allows families to better connect and engage in the lives of their loved ones in long-term care facilities at the City. The Lodges see students being able to successfully support this project by conducting primary research into the communication needs and desires of families and residents including the type of information, frequency of communication and delivery methods. It is also envisioned that students would play a role in conducting secondary research on best practices and available technology options with a business case for recommendations based on outcomes of research. Development or implementation of any technical solutions would be out of scope.
City Staff: Jenn Hohol, Senior Project Manager, Healthy and Safe Communities
Faculty, Course, & Students:
Karen Dieleman, Redeemer University, CTS Core Capstone (5-6 students)
Cynthia Lokker, McMaster University, eHealth/HRM 724: Fundamentals of eHealth and the Canadian Health Care System (53 students)
Dr. Zobia Jawed, McMaster University, Master’s Engineering Design Project (2 students)
Deliverables: Primary Research (i.e. conducting surveys and/or collecting data), Secondary Research (i.e. review of literature and finding information from books and online), Business Case, and Developing a Website. End goal would be the recommendation of an electronic solution, however, focus for this term of would be research into what requirements would be needed. Scope of building solution would be anticipated to be too large for a single term.
Location: City-Wide, The Lodges are located in Ward 13 (Wentworth Lodge) and Ward 7 (Macassa Lodge), however, residents and families can come from anywhere across (or outside of) the City.
Redeemer University Project:
Researching communication improvements in Hamilton’s LTC Homes
Students: Sophia Bradbury,Maria Gonzalez, Kaitlyn Hogeterp, Gichan Hong, Chloe Rozema
McMaster University Projects:
Technology for communicating between LTC homes and families.
Students: Aliyah Ahmed, Tanzil Sadid, Christopher Eastick, Marvelyn Oni, Tamara Mohanavathanan
Course: eHealth 724: Fundamentals of eHealth and the Canadian Health Care System
Communication Needs Of Long Term Care Homes and Residents' Loved Ones
Students: Ariba Alam, Bahram Rahman, Vernon Schneider, Ryan Strum, Bahiyyih Schmalenberg
Course: EHEALTH 724:Fundamentals of eHealth and the Canadian Health Care System - HTHRSM 724
An implementation guide to making communication change that sticks.
Students: Sandeep Kumar, Viscardi, Virginia, Serrina Gunanayagam, Macbeth Vaz, Mira Makan
Instructor and Course: Cynthia Lokker, e-Health HRM 724, e-Health Program
