Funding was announced last month in Fredericton for a virtual reality training module to improve safety for nursing home workers. (Submitted)
Funding from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation will provide virtual reality training for nursing home workers to help keep them safe.
Denise Paradis of New Brunswick Continuing Care Association in Fredericton said they will create the first module of the training platform with New Brunswick companies.
She says it could include a scenario where a new hire is dealing with an aggressive or unresponsive patient.
“How do they handle that situation? If they can’t handle it that well, this is perfect for us to have extra training for that person to prepare them and say, ‘okay, you are missing these skills, we are going to build on them,'” Paradis said.
The training module will be developed by provincial organizations including FirstMobile in Fredericton.
Paradis says they will bring the training to the workers so, employees don’t have to leave their job to complete it.
“Great safety training programs exist for this sector. Unfortunately, so many require taking individuals off the frontlines for one, two, three days or more for training. Unlike other industries, nursing homes have limited resources for funding and these days, for employees too. This is why I had to think of an alternative way to get the training to the frontlines where it’s needed most,” Paradis said.
A cheque was recently presented for $100,000 for this virtual reality training program.
The project also involves the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation.
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