The experience of meal assistance for clinical and non-clinical staff in a LTC facility in a time of crisis.
C.M. Steele, T. Rivera, L. Bernick, S. Reichman, S. Robertson, S. Romeril
Funder: Collaborative Research Program in Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Toronto in 2003 required an unprecedented and extraordinary effort by all health care professionals to contain and halt the spread of the virus. By a directive from the Ministry of Health of Ontario, family members, volunteers and paid private companions were restricted for three weeks from entering Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care during the peak of the SARS crisis.

At this time, health care providers and support staff within the that centre came together to augment the care and support normally provided by these individuals. One of the most challenging and immediate needs was to provide feeding assistance to approximately 237 residents/clients. Baycrest has a comprehensive volunteer eating assistance-training program, which normally assigns volunteers to regularly assist client/residents. However, given the restrictions to entering the facility during SARS, staff members were educated, trained and redeployed to assist with feeding throughout the centre.

This project is a descriptive exploratory study designed to examine factors that influenced the meal assistance experience and to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of the relationship between the client and staff. Separate focus groups with clinical and non-clinical staff were held to explore staff experience. Group responses were tape recorded, transcribed and are being qualitatively analyzed for common themes and concepts. The findings from this study will help to identify those factors that a) influence the feeding assistance experience and b) may be considered for all staff involvement at a corporate level.