海角社区官网

Kusendova-Bashta, a registered nurse who pushed for the 2024 legislation on improved access to dementia care, said in a Thursday news release that emotion-focused programs “can improve the quality of care for residents while improving the work experience of staff.鈥澛�

This approach, the release said, is “designed to improve the well-being of long-term-care home residents with dementia through care that prioritizes resident needs and fosters close relationships between staff, residents and families.”聽

Dr. Samir Sinha, a geriatrician and director of health policy research at the National Institute on Ageing, said such programs are “essential to delivering high-quality care and good overall quality of life.”

These programs, Sinha said, highlight a key point: “Resident-centered care is not just about having more staff but ensuring they have the skills to work effectively with some of our most vulnerable citizens.”

After the three-year-pilot project ends, it will be evaluated with the possibility of expansion to additional homes across the sector, a ministry spokesperson said.聽

In Ontario’s long-term care industry, a few homes 鈥� out of 626 鈥� have already added these programs.聽

Lisa Levin, CEO of Advantage Ontario, said she expects there will be strong competition for a spot in the pilot project among the not-for-profit, charitable and municipal homes she represents. Ideally, Levin said, homes that want to add programs will get funding in the future.聽 聽

Donna Duncan, CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association, which represents for-profit and not-for profit homes, said Kusendova-Bashta’s pilot project champions dementia care and will help equip staff “for some of the most complex care needs.”

If done properly 鈥� with leadership that upholds those philosophies instead of reverting to old institutional ways 鈥� these models can change lives, said Mary Connell, a registered nurse and dementia consultant who oversaw the 2018 addition of emotion-focused care in a Peel Region home.

Connell, who is now helping the Rekai Centres in 海角社区官网add emotion-focused care to its dementia households, said Peel’s data found an improvement in emotional well-being among residents, staff and families, a reduction in antipsychotic drug use, and a reduction in unintended weight loss.

“But overall, there was just a feeling of joy that, you know, of course, we can’t measure, there’s no tool to measure that. But it’s palpable, the difference, it’s an elimination of loneliness, boredom, and depression.”

With funding, Connell said, the opportunities can spread.

“This is an equalizer. It doesn’t matter if you’re urban or rural. If you’re rich or poor, you’re for-profit or not-for-profit. Everybody will be on an even playing field. Everybody will get the same level of service.”