Baycrest

• Guide program infrastructure development and client and family engagement in health education • Build staff capacity and professional practice efforts • Increase access to reliable health information • Create new educational materials • Develop programming to improve health self-management and quality of life for our client, family, caregiver and community populations This customized needs assessment was recently recognized as a Leading Practice by the Health Standards Organization (HSO), in alliance with Accreditation Canada. As a result of this analysis, the PFCE program has started collaborating with staff and developing tools to help promote the following best practices: 1. Using plain language and avoiding medical jargon 2. Using teach-back, a research-informed technique to check for understanding 3. Knowing where to get reliable education materials and using them to reinforce learning 4. Evaluating health information websites used with clients 5. Identifying ways to engage clients, families and caregivers in the learning process 6. Using tools and strategies that meet a client's learning preferences 7. Improving the client's and family's ability to easily navigate the healthcare system Additionally, the PFCE team has introduced Baycrest's new Health Literacy Roadmap, which is intended to support our clients, residents, families, caregivers and visitors in taking part in, managing and making decisions about care and effectively navigating the healthcare system. Copies of the Roadmap have been distributed to units and clinics and have been placed on news racks around the campus. Health literacy plays a significant role in maintaining and improving health. The PFCE program in the Centre for Education is actively supporting Baycrest staff in becoming leaders in the field of geriatric health literacy best practices. These practices will help alleviate client and family worry, promote partnership and ensure a positive and engaging health or residential care experience. 2020 BAYCREST IMPACT 23

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