I am a person, hear me, care with me, keep me well.
Seniors living in North Simcoe Muskoka are starting to see changes in how care is provided in longterm care homes, hospitals and the community. Through the Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) Project new services, programs and training are now being introduced to provide appropriate care and support for an increasing number of seniors across Ontario and their families and caregivers, who live and cope with dementia, mental illness and/or other neurological conditions. First announced by the province last August, BSO represents a comprehensive system redesign that has successfully broken down barriers, encouraged collaborative work, shared knowledge and fostered partnerships among local, regional and provincial agencies. The result is a cultural transformation; a new way of thinking, acting and behaving.
BSO has allowed local health service providers to hire new staff including nurses, personal support workers and other health care professionals. Meanwhile, the project has also leveraged existing/complementary services and resources, galvanizing a regional approach to caring for this population in a coordinated, integrated way. As a result, both new and existing workers have received specialized training for the skills required to provide patient-centered care to seniors who have responsive and complex behaviours.
The value statement above was just one of the outcomes of the work completed by North Simcoe Muskoka health service providers in developing a local BSO action plan. One of the initiatives outlined in the action plan allows for increased access to Wendat Community Programs transitional nurses. These dedicated individuals provide assistance to older adults experiencing behavioural issues, and their families, in developing care plans to enable transition from hospital to a long-term care home.
“My mom had been in the hospital for just over a month, labeled "aggressive, requiring restraints". I cannot tell you how wonderful Sandy and the Wendat program is! For the first time in a month I feel like someone cares about who my mom is and what her needs are. Thank you.”
To date, more than 300 new front-line staff have been hired across the province, over 310 long-term care homes have increased their in-house behavioural supports, and upwards of 4,000 new and existing front-line staff have received specialized training in techniques/approaches applicable to behavioural supports.
QUOTES
"Ontario’s population is aging and so too are the numbers of seniors living with dementia and other complex health needs. These seniors need and deserve quality patient-centered care. I’m proud that our government’s investment in Behavioural Supports Ontario has enabled dedicated health care providers to work with their LHINs to develop and implement local plans that are making a difference and leading to the right care being delivered in the right place, at the right time.”
- The Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“The Alzheimer Society of Ontario applauds the progress BSO has made towards improved quality of life for this group of Ontarians, especially those living with dementia. We’re encouraged by these early signs of success and look forward to working with the LHINs as the project continues to roll out
across the province.”
- Gale Carey, CEO, Alzheimer Society of Ontario
“Thanks to the system leadership shown by Alzheimer Society of Greater Simcoe County, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and the County of Simcoe, behavioural supports for North Simcoe Muskoka residents has become a reality. This is an excellent example of what can be achieved when providers come together to improve the health of residents, provide high quality care and do this in such a way that sees us use limited resources in an effective manner.”
- Bernie Blais, NSM LHIN CEO
QUICK FACTS
* In developing the NSM action plan, stakeholder engagement resulted in 4,900 volunteer hours that involved 76 stakeholders from 53 agencies
* BSO is a $40-million investment by the Ontario government
* 65 per cent of long-term care home residents have dementia
* Over 7,000 North Simcoe Muskoka residents are currently living with dementia; this number will grow to almost 8,200 people by 2016.
* By 2020, the number of persons with dementia in Ontario will increase by 40 per cent to 250,000
* 34 per cent of Alternate Level of Care (ALC) bed days are occupied by people with dementia
LEARN MORE
* To learn more about Behavioural Supports Ontario in North Simcoe Muskoka, please visit the LHIN’s website at www.nsmlhin.on.ca
* To learn more about the Behavioural Supports Ontario project, please visit www.bssproject.ca
* To learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, visit www.alzheimer.ca/on
* For further information related to this release, see attached backgrounder.
Susan French, Communications Coordinator
North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN, 705-326-7750 x234
susan.french@lhins.on.ca
Behavioural Supports Ontario Backgrounder
The number of people with cognitive impairment is growing, which places further strain on individuals and the health care system. Older people with cognitive impairments due to mental health problems, addictions, dementia, or other neurological conditions often exhibit responsive or challenging behaviours such as aggression, wandering, physical resistance and agitation. These behaviours, which occur whether the person is living at home, in acute care or in long term care, are a major source of distress to the individual, their family or caregivers and others providing support. Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) supports Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care by enhancing care for Ontarians with behaviours associated with complex and challenging mental health, dementia or other neurological conditions – delivering the Right Care, when they require it – at the Right Time, and wherever they live – in the Right Place. Central to the success of the project is creating a system that ensures people are treated with dignity and respect in an environment that supports safety for all and is based on high quality and evidence based care and practices.
Phase 1 of the BSO project (January – October 2010) saw the development of a Framework for Care that would meet the needs of older adults with cognitive impairments and associated challenging behaviours. The project has now transitioned from conceptualization and development to implementation and operation.
In Phase 2, currently underway, all 14 LHINs are implementing their respective Action Plans and all have started to show early signs of positive and meaningful system impacts that will change the way people living with complex and responsive behaviours across Ontario, including their families and caregivers, are cared for and supported. BSO breaks down barriers, encourages collaborative work, shares knowledge, fosters partnerships among local, regional and provincial agencies and speaks to a new way of thinking, acting and behaving.