By Gillian Vine

Presbyterian Support (Otago) has earned a reputation by being a market leader within the rest home and hospital sector. Using the accreditation framework as a model for quality significant quality improvements have been achieved.

'Things don't happen unless you have frameworks to make them happen,'Penny Hambleton, Quality Manager, Aged Care Services at Support Otago, said.

Mrs Hambleton described how Support put together a project team to provide a model to facilitate change.

'In June 2000 a number of residential service staff had the opportunity to attend a Michael Kendrick workshop. This workshop with its clear messages on quality as it relates to people saw the establishment of a project team to facilitate deeper reflection on the issues being raised and what meaning this had for us and the services to older people that we provide. This led to a Values Based Review undertaken by a three person team from Australia,' she said.

'This review highlighted there were definitely opportunities for continuing improvement that focused on ensuring older people living in our residential services lead valued and meaningful lives. To enable this it is important that the framework that supports service delivery is one of a bold social construct. This is in contrast to the 'medicalised' model that currently dominates our service provision.

'But you still have to manage that, you still have to deal with complex health issues ... but it's a very physical focus.'

The review furthered the resolve that already existed in Support to move forward, leaving behind the popular notion that a move into residential care would mean abandoning activities that had formed an important part of life.

"If you were, say, a keen gardener, we should bend over backwards to make those things continue."

The challenge for Presbyterian Support (Otago) now is to create a model of service delivery that truly honours the lives of older people.

"We've really spent the past 18 months formulating a process to allow us to undertake this journey," she said.