Tag: Judy Martin

As some of you may already know, DCM Institute’s Judy Martin also happens to be the Chair of the Global Ageing Network (GAN).

This organisation seeks to enhance the quality of life for the ageing, connecting and supporting care and service providers around the world.

Recently, Judy was part of a worldwide discussions on lessons learned from the Global COVID pandemic so far, and how these might help us prepare for future waves.

While there were many lessons identified in the discussion, Judy believes five of these are key for the retirement living sector.

1. The important role technology played as a communication medium
2. The benefit of mobilising the sector together to work on solutions
3. The interaction and division between health, aged care and social care
4. A new spotlight on improving services for older persons
5. How ageism impacted response strategies

The DCM Institute team has also reflected on the sort of broader pandemic measures we as village professionals should think about including in our long-term business continuity plans.

Here are a few thoughts:

1. Embrace technology both in your workplace and in your ongoing village communications
    
   1. Establish a preferred app or software program that will be your go to communication aid. Use this in day to day communications.
   2. Tap into local technology grants and programs that can help support residents to develop their technology skills.
       
2. Mobilise together and develop relationships and networks that will be valuable in the future
    
   1. Establish a local village professional working group.
   2. Establish a village working group with residents and head office.
   3. Reach out to past/retired team members to assess their ability to assist in emergency situations.
   4. Consider joining the DCMI Village network meetings.
       
3. Ensure that your plan includes support to assist to deal with health crisis
    
   1. Reach out and establish a working relationships with your local Public Health Network and hospital.
   2. Enlist the services of an emergency healthcare specialist. 
   3. Set clear boundaries of where the village’s role starts and stops in regards to healthcare, and make sure all staff are across these.
       
4. Heighten your focus on services that can be provided to residents
    
   1. Keep an eye out for further grants and programs that can benefit residents and sign up to community grants scheme notifications.
   2. Consider which resident services will be maintained as business as usual, and which ones will need to be ramped up as needed.

Further to this, in the Village Network meeting this week held by DCM Institute there was healthy discussion about the importance of building business practices in villages that consider and reflect the ongoing pandemic and natural disaster risks as business as usual.

Learning from the lessons of the first wave is the best way to inform our future actions, and drive the best outcomes for our residents.