Abstract
The infection control and isolation protocols implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the harmful impact to older persons when clinicians were unable to deliver care based on gerontological best practices. As a team of Advanced Practice Nurses specializing in the care of older persons, we wanted to leverage the use of digital technology to provide culturally relevant and meaningful programming tailored to the individual in care, but also remain adherent to infection control practices. Our literature review confirmed a gap in the use of digital technology to address responsive behaviours. As such, we sought to design a novel delirium management app GeriConnect that prompted clinician users to input an individual’s responsive behaviours but also their personal preferences. Our program algorithm would then generate recommended virtual/online programming and activity options that are language specific, attending to their personal preferences, with a senior friendly lens. GeriConnect was additionally designed to guide clinicians through delirium prevention best practices so that the external environment is optimized to reduce responsive behaviours. In this showcase, we share our app development journey over the past three years to build a proof-of-concept prototype, user feedback from clinician stakeholders, as well as reflections and learnings on nurse-led innovation designs. The use of app technology such as GeriConnect has incredible potential to mitigate responsive behaviours for older persons across a multitude of care settings and compensate for isolation protocols through the provision of meaningful virtual programming and activities.
Presenters
Linda LiuClinical Nurse Specialist, Medical Psychiatry, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Medical Perspectives on Aging, Health, Wellness
KEYWORDS
Digital App, Responsive Behaviours, Geriatric Best Practices, Delirium, Dementia, Neurocognitive
