Cummer Lodge

Built in 1970 and renovated in 2000, Cummer Lodge has 391 beds, sits on 4.5 acres of landscaped property overlooking a wooded ravine.

All resident bedrooms have air conditioning.

Special language and cultural partnerships within the home community include:

• Cantonese
• Farsi
• Jewish
• Korean
• Mandarin

Cummer Lodge offers the following specialized services:

• Behavioural Support Programs
• Short-stay Respite
• Adult Day Program

Behavioural Support Programs

As recognized leaders in behavioural support programs, we have a long history of demonstrated knowledge of dementia, delirium and mental health in the delivery of care. Cummer Lodge has a Ministry-designated 16-bed Behavioural Support Unit which receives enhanced funding.

Staff and medical professionals are knowledgeable in the most prevalent types and related causes of behavioural issues, understand disease processes, stages and progression, diagnostic and assessment process, cognitive or neurological symptoms, treatment interventions, appropriate communication to address resident needs, strategies to promote optimal quality of life and experience of the behaviour(s) from the perspective of the resident, family members and other partners in care.

Short-Stay Respite

The short-stay admission program supports families seeking respite from the caregiver role for a period of up to 60 continuous days to a maximum of 90 days per year.

Toronto’s Emergency Plan outlines how the City of Toronto is prepared to effectively handle all emergencies.

Beds for pandemic-related isolation purposes are available.

Cummer Lodge has a structured emergency management process of risk identification, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

The scope of emergency management planning includes a variety of hazardous situations that may occur inside or outside of the long-term care home, such as:

• fire
• natural disaster
• biochemical and bomb threats
• chemical spills
• radiation exposure
• threats of personal violence
• power failure
• utilities failure

All staff members are trained to respond to these universal codes for emergencies:

• Code Red: Fire
• Code Black: Bomb Threat
• Code Yellow: Missing Resident
• Code Green: Evacuation
• Code Orange: External Disaster
• Code White: Violent Behaviour
• Code Blue: Cardiac Arrest

In addition, we follow the Incident Management System (ISM) and have a robust Crisis/Disaster Communication Protocol.

For further information, please contact Cornel Baptista, Manager Environmental Services

Quality Improvement Interim Report

Hao Chau, Administrator, Designated Quality Improvement Lead and Chair of Site Quality Improvement, Risk Management and Innovation Committee

Elizabeth Juraschka, Divisional Quality Improvement Advisor and Chair of Divisional Quality Improvement, Risk Management and Innovation Committee

Overview

Cummer Lodge is a City of Toronto directly-operated long-term care home dedicated to continuously improving care and service provision.  The quality improvement plan for 2022-23 reflects our commitment to engage with all stakeholders – residents, families, staff and external partners to collaboratively advance innovative care and services leading to improved outcomes. The commitment to quality improvement is grounded in Seniors Services and Long-Term Care’s mission, vision and values.

Identified strategic priorities provide a roadmap to address the many challenges long-term care operators will continue to face over the next few years and guide our approach to respond to sector-wide staffing shortages, an aging demographic, and the high acuity care needs and multiple health co-morbidities and complexities of the resident population. All of our work encourages innovation, research, effective, efficient service pathways and emotion-centered resident care.

Our commitment to quality improvement has over 20 years of history and we have been able to foster a culture of improvement where staff are committed to continuously enhancing the quality of care and services for residents, caregivers and families.  Quality improvement is everyone’s responsibility and it is more than a project or initiative, it is about how we provide care and services, how we pivot, reflect, adapt, adopt and abandon practices when they no longer meet or achieve the desired outcomes. It is aligned with the experience responses received from the annual experience survey, Residents’ Council, Family Council and Home Advisory Committee. Quality Improvement is about doing something when you hear that change is needed, when data illustrates an area for improvement is required, and when service and care pathways no longer achieve positive outcomes.  Quality Improvement is fluid, and empowers all stakeholders to collaborate to achieve an ideal state.

Quality Improvement Priority Selection Process

The quality improvement priority selection process reflects the collaboration and analysis of statistical data trends, program evaluation outcomes, inspection protocol and audit results, Ministry of Long-Term Care reports, results from the Resident and Family experience survey “Your Opinion Counts”, Ontario Health system level priority areas, collaborations with healthcare partners and opportunities for improvement submitted to Site Quality Improvement, Risk Management and Innovation Committee.  The selection process is a balance between the many opportunities, resources available to support quality improvement work and the significant impact on the quality of care and service that can be achieved.

Priority Areas for 2022-23

Cummer Lodge will focus on improving:

• % of Medication Reconciliations completed through (BOOMR®) for new resident admissions – New process is aimed at improving process and reducing risk. Aim is to achieve 85% of all new admissions be completed through a BOOMR trio call.
• Resident Centred Care Planning – Partnership with Healthcare Excellence Canada currently collecting baseline data

The long-term care home has diligently worked on improving healthcare outcomes over the year(s) and is below the provincial average in the following areas, however will also be including in their quality improvement plan:

• Reduce % of potentially avoidable emergency department visits from 14.58 to 14.00 – partnership with Healthcare Excellence Canada
• Reduce % of residents not living with psychosis who were given antipsychotic medications from 17.11 to 17.00

The opinions of Residents’ Council and Family Council were sought in the development of the Quality Improvement Plan and updates on the plan and projects will be provided throughout the year as requested by the chairs of these committees.  Residents and families have been invited to participate in quality improvement work, including providing feedback through surveys.

Policies, Procedures and Protocols that Guide Continuous Quality Improvement:

Quality Improvement policy:

• Establishes our commitment to continuous quality improvement in the provisions of care and service through the application of a quality improvement methodology to achieve positive resident outcomes.

Quality Improvement Project Idea Submission Form:

• An informal and formal mechanism that provides employee(s), residents, families, caregivers, Residents’ Council, Family Council and clients with an avenue for submitting quality improvement ideas for consideration by Quality Councils.

Quality Improvement Project Selection Matrix:

• The Quality Improvement Project Selection Matrix form assists in the prioritizing and approval of quality improvement submission ideas.

Quality Improvement Reporting:

• Quality Improvement reports are prepared and submitted at minimum quarterly to identify quality improvement priorities, current activities, success to date and future quality improvement work.

Quality Improvement Charters:

• The Quality Improvement Charter is a documentation tool that supports teams through the plan do study act (PDSA) problem-solving model. The PDSA problem-solving model provides a common framework for different teams to speak the same language and work together to improve a process or care outcome. The charter serves as a communication tool for the team and Quality Committee to track the progress of QI projects/initiatives.

Problem-Solving Cycle Model – Plan-Do-Study- Act (QI Model for Improvement)®:

• Quality improvement work within the home is grounded in QI science which outlines the tools and processes to support, assess achievements and spread QI results. Teams apply QI tools aligned within the Model for Improvement – plan do study act (PDSA), Six Sigma and Lean, enabling them to achieve incremental changes.

Site Quality Improvement, Risk Management and Innovation Committee and Divisional Committee Structures:

• Structures and accountability are in place to support the commitment to quality improvement which includes, authorization to the General Manager from City Council to certify and approve on behalf of the City, the home’s annual Quality Improvement Plan(s) (QIPs) for submission to Ontario Health, as required under the Excellent Care for All Act, 2010. The General Manager has responsibility and authority for the quality of care and service and the management of risks.

Seniors Service and Long-Term Care’s integrated quality management framework overseen by the divisional Quality Improvement Advisor considers and acts on opportunities to improve in areas related to strategic direction, quality improvement, risk management, safety culture, positive customer experience, resource allocation, just culture (including positive work life culture) and an ethical culture.

Accountability:

At a divisional level, the General Manager, with the leadership of Quality Improvement Advisor and support of the Divisional Quality Improvement, Risk Management and Innovation Council directs, co-ordinates and provides for the ongoing development of the division’s Integrated Quality Management framework.

Divisional Program leads and divisional committee members are accountable to support the long-term care homes’ achieve positive outcomes through quality improvement work, operational reviews, inspection protocols, audits, program evaluations, action plan development, risk management, innovation, education, and implementation of policies and procedures which reflect leading practices.

At a site level, the General Manager has delegated day-to-day operational accountability for quality improvement and risk management outcomes and innovation to the Administrator of each home under the direction of the Director, Long-Term Care Homes, and to the Manager, Seniors Services for Community Programs.

The terms of reference of each committee reflects legislative requirements of membership and accountability.

Communication of Quality Improvement work:

A comprehensive communication strategy supports quality improvement work within the long-term care home and at the division level.  The actions enable the home to broadly communicate annual Quality Improvement Plans, the results of quality improvement activities to senior management, residents/clients, caregivers, families, staff and volunteers.  A central part of the communication strategy is to seek advice if any from Residents’ Council and Family Council and make improvements as appropriate to care and services. Quality Improvement teams encourage and facilitate opportunities for input if any from Residents’ Council and Family Council into the annual Quality Improvement Plan and utilize feedback from residents/clients and families to improve the quality improvement system and communication methods.

Communication strategies are in place and include the following:

• Posting on the long-term care home’s Quality Improvement display board located in a highly visible area within the long-term care home
• Staff huddles and team meetings
• Quarterly reports on progress of quality improvement work
• Sharing quality improvement highlights in all staff emails from the General Manager
• Sharing quality improvement highlights with stakeholders using on-site LED displays, update bulletins, quarterly newsletters, Annual Report and posting on the website
• The Homefront publication features quality improvement and innovative care and service practices that have resulted in positive resident outcomes. These articles support the learning, spread of change ideas and networking of team members between the various long-term care homes and with stakeholders at multiple sites
• Presentations of quality improvement achievements are scheduled in the individual long-term care home and shared divisionally during Town Hall calls and at an annual Quality Improvement and Innovation Event showcase
• Projects are presented externally to member associations and shared with other health care organizations through learning events and publications, and with City partners through submission to the City Manager’s Awards.

• A multicultural setting, where residents of diverse religions and cultures live together while respecting each other beliefs and traditions, we offer a variety of culturally appropriate services
• We believe that every resident has individual needs and must be involved in decisions regarding his or her care. Taking a holistic approach in the care of each resident, the inter-professional team of highly trained and dedicated staff considers the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each individual, to help each resident attain the highest possible quality of life. Care of the individual is planned with the resident and family/friend involvement to ensure it is consistent and based on resident’s values, beliefs, and wishes.

Families are an integral part in helping make the best decisions for their family member. We offer many opportunities for families to be involved:

• Resident care conferences
• Quality Improvement, Innovation and Risk Management Committee
• Family Council
• Satisfaction surveys
• Volunteer services.

• We value partnerships and work closely with our hospitals and faith groups including Jewish Family and Children Services. We receive education from the Alzheimer and Huntington’s Society in addition to organizations like REENA who support our residents who are developmentally delayed
• We are proud of our over 300 volunteers – young and old – who support Cummer Lodge and our residents.