Lacombe Nursing Centre
Rehab S.T.E.P.S. Program and “Eldergarten”
By Samantha R. Young, MCD CCC/SLP, Program Manager
The Rehab Department of Lacombe Nursing Centre developed and launched two interventions last fall that have been very successful with the residents that have participated, especially those who have returned home – S.T.E.P.S. Program and “Eldergarten.”
The S.T.E.P.S. program is part of our “Caring Steps to Home.” In addition to our daily treatments, we focus skilled training in specific “target” areas, Monday through Friday.
(S) Self-Care & Safety (Monday):
- • safe use of adaptive equipment
- • completing household chores
- • meal planning
- • medication organization
(T) Transfers (Tuesday)
- • higher level (e.g., car; sofa; straight chair)
(E) Exercise & Energy Conservation (Wednesday)
- • home exercise program (e.g., stretching; fine motor; strengthening)
- • activity grading
(P) Problem-Solving (Thursday)
- • orientation/current events
- • community resources
- • “in-home” problem solving scenarios
(S) Standing & Stability (Friday)
- • functional reaching with safety focus
- • obstacle courses
Our Eldergarten program is conducted and directed by speech therapy during the work week and carried out by the activities department on weekend days. This intervention facilitates temporal/spatial/general orientation, recent memory, and functional problem solving skills. Eldergarten also promotes social interaction and even incorporates fun facts and trivia knowledge in some very engaging tasks!
Samantha R. Young, MCD CCC/SLP, can be reached at Lacombe Nursing Centre at 985-882-5417.
