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St. Paul Homes kicked off the P.E.E.R. project
(Pennsylvania’s Empowered Expert
Residents) in 2004 with a two-part series of staff trainings held
January and February. Eighteen residents, who had signed up to become
volunteer "PEERs”, participated in the first and second of
five resident training sessions. A second class of PEER training hosts
thirteen more volunteers. Collectively, these residents
represent each of the four levels of care offered at St. Paul Homes
including The Villas, The Heritage, The Ridgewood and Cottage Colony.
The P.E.E.R. Project is a new program designed to train resident advocates
to work from inside long-term care organizations with staff and other
residents to enhance quality of care and quality of life for their “Peers”.
The project was initiated by the Pennsylvania State Ombudsman’s Office
through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Having heard about the
voluntary program at an administrative learning session, St. Paul Homes
sought information to be one of the first long-term care organizations to
bring it to Western Pennsylvania.
Kristin Woellmer, Regional Volunteer Ombudsman Coordinator from the
Pennsylvania Department of Aging, leads the training sessions for staff and
residents.
Self-resolution and consumer empowerment are themes consistently
emphasized. The focus of the program is on preserving and protecting
resident rights. P.E.E.R. groups in other facilities have facilitated some
creative projects such as participating in staff trainings,
developing staff appreciation tools, helping welcome new resident and
creating mechanisms for honoring their “peers” who should be honored for
their lifetime accomplishments. Anyone with questions regarding the P.E.E.R.
program may contact Tammy Lininger,
Administrator at (724) 588-7610.
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