North East LHIN Invests in Help for People with Dementias and their Caregivers

Press Release

October 25, 2016 — Rachelle Poirier knows how hard it is to communicate with and care for a loved one with dementia.

The North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) recognizes the challenges faced by families such as Rachelle’s and is investing in more Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) front-line workers and training opportunities to support people with the disease and their caregivers.

“Having a parent diagnosed with dementia quickly puts you on a journey of change. In my case, I was met with many challenges along the way when trying to access services in the community,” Poirier said. “BSO quickly became my lifeline for understanding behaviours, navigating the system and accessing support in the community.”

North East BSO provides a comprehensive system of support to enhance care for older adults with responsive behaviours that may be associated with dementia, mental health, substance use and/or other neurological conditions, as well as their caregivers.

“These regional investments are about working together to build a people-centred way of caring for people with dementias as well as strategies and support for their caregivers and families,” said Louise Paquette, CEO of the NE LHIN. “Understanding behaviours is the first part of finding ways to communicate and then care for the person with dementia.”

New NE LHIN BSO investments include:

• Espanola General Hospital – A BSO clinician to work with people and families in the Espanola and Manitoulin areas.

• Anson General Hospital, Cochrane – A BSO clinician as well as orientation, training, and supplies.

• CMHA Cochrane-Temiskaming — A BSO clinician to work residents of long-term homes in the Temiskaming area.

• North Bay Regional Health Centre – Funding to develop the North East BSO Aboriginal Strategy project and enhance the BSO Regional Central Intake.

• Alzheimer Societies (located in Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins, and Sault Ste. Marie) – Funding to enhance their work.

• Multiple Long Term Care Homes will receive funding for professional development to foster in-house BSO Champions within existing staff, including:
o Temiskaming Lodge, Haileybury
o Extendicare Tri-Town, Haileybury
o Tech Pioneer, Kirkland Lake
o Extendicare Kirkland Lake
o Northview Nursing Home, Englehart
o Belvedere Heights LTCH, Parry Sound
o Algoma Manor, Thessalon
o North Centenniel Manor, Kapuskasing

• Funding will also be distributed among 14 long-term care homes to cover professional development replacement wages – to backfill positions as employees receive specialized training this October.

• Last week, the LHIN announced the creation of a new Enhanced Care Seniors Support Program at the Hoivakoti Long-Term Care Home in Sudbury which will provide enhanced staffing levels and specialized programs modelling different approaches and techniques.

Quick Facts:
• Since the launch of North East Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) in 2011, the NE LHIN has enhanced the province’s Northeastern Ontario investment of $3.7 million with an additional $1.4 million for a total BSO investment of $5.1 million to care for Northerners right across the region.

• North East BSO provides a comprehensive system of support to enhance care for older adults with responsive behaviours that may be associated with dementia, mental health, substance use and/or other neurological conditions, as well as their caregivers.

• Through investments, the NE LHIN has added more than 70 front-line BSO workers across the region to community agencies, long-term care homes, and hospitals, as well as provided specialized training for 7,500 others already working in the field.

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