On April 19th, 2013, 33 members of the Partnerships in Dementia Care (PiDC) Alliance met for a day long retreat. Participants included members of the Research Management Team, members of each of the Huron County, Yee Hong and Partnering Together for Change Culture Change Coalitions (CCC) and the Reaching for New Heights Village Advisory Team (VAT) at The Village of Wentworth Heights.
Our objectives were twofold:
1) To give participants a refresher on the Appreciative Inquiry Process, and
2) To produce some important visioning for the PiDC Alliance project.
As we moved through 4 of the five Appreciative Inquiry phases (Dawn->Design), the assembled group created aspiration statements regarding their visions for the ideal future of the PiDC Alliance project and the Culture Change process in dementia care and collaborated to design for this ideal future. These Design plans focussed in part on:
- Developing methods to continue to share our stories;
- Giving positive feedback and credit within the project and in our Long Term Care (LTC) and Community Care settings;
- Acknowledging and reflecting on existing boundaries inside and outside of the project;
- Encouraging non-hierarchical decision making including multiple voices;
- Embracing front line staff as strong champions of culture change;
- Nurturing positive relationships;
- And celebrating our progress.
Serena Tin, Gail Kitamura and Kristie Wiedenfield wear signs representing their roles in their Dream skit
We demonstrate our Dreams through art and performance!
The ‘Culture Change Angels’ share their visions for an ideal care future.