In North Simcoe and Muskoka, the population is older than in other regions of the province, and, according to a recently released study by the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, cases of dementia across the province will increase almost 120 per cent by 2040.

Caring for people with dementia can become more difficult for loved ones and health care providers when the dementia is accompanied by behaviours that are challenging to manage. These can include wandering, agitation and aggression, which can complicate care and extend hospital stays among hospitalized older adults. These factors all highlight the importance of continuing to expand effective, compassionate care tailored to the distinct needs of aging adults in hospitals.

The Behaviour Success Agent (BSA) program, led by Waypoint’s North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services (NSM SGS) program in partnership with area hospitals, addresses this need by supporting hospitalized older adults with dementia and behaviours. More than 600 patients have been served by the BSA program, which is more than double the target set when the initiative was launched in January 2023.

“We’re so proud of the impact this program is having,” said Annalee King, Manager of the Geriatric Mental Health Community team at NSM SGS. “The program support is essential to patients and their caregivers. We’re seeing real improvements in the quality and consistency of care, which can help reduce the time people spend in hospital. It’s also been gratifying to witness better communication amongst health care providers in the community and within hospitals and long-term-care settings. This program is a win for older adults and their loved ones, as well as for the health care system overall.”

BSAs are registered practical nurses, recreation therapists and other health care professionals specially trained to support the care of those with dementia and behaviours. Working directly with patients, BSAs strive to reduce the frequency and severity of behaviours and improve health outcomes and patient experiences — ultimately facilitating earlier discharges from hospital.

NSM SGS is a hospital- and community-based regional program designed to improve outcomes for frail older adults, their caregivers and the health system. Goals include helping older adults age safely in place, expanding regional services and skills, reducing avoidable emergency department visits and hospital admissions, and decreasing premature placement in long-term care.

NSM SGS trains, mentors and supports the BSAs to directly assess and support the patient, build patient-centred plans of care and help other members of the care team implement what they’ve learned. With the tools and knowledge they’ve gained, hospital staff ensure consistent care for these patients while also providing them and their loved ones with individualized support.

Last year, patients supported by the BSA program experienced a 77 per cent reduction in behaviours. For individuals where hospital stay was no longer required, the behaviour identified as the barrier to discharge was removed as a barrier in 65 per cent of the cases. This is important in enhancing patients’ quality of life while also helping to ease pressures on hospitals and improve access to care.

The BSA program is currently the subject of a study led by Dr. Katie Bingham, a geriatric psychiatrist and physician lead with NSM SGS. She was recently awarded a three-year $750,000 grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research — Waypoint’s largest CIHR grant to date — to study the impact of the program, with an eye toward expanding it to other hospitals.

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“I’m Still Here” delves into the profound impact of dementia on not just those living with the disease, but also on their friends and families. The play offers a moving and emotional portrayal of the struggles and challenges faced by those with dementia, while also providing a deeper understanding of the condition.

The performance combines real-life stories with research in order to dispel the myths and misconceptions surrounding dementia. The creators of the play hope that “I’m Still Here” will help to diminish the fears and stigma that often accompany dementia.

“It’s a 50-minute drama designed to help care partners, families and the community at large understand the reality the person with dementia faces every day,” says Shawna Torkoff, public education coordinator with the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka.

Don’t miss this powerful and thought-provoking performance on February 7th at 7:00 pm on Zoom. Register for free now.

For more information, call the office at (705) 645 – 5621 or visit https://bit.ly/StillHereFeb23

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When you reach out to your local Alzheimer Society, you gain access to dementia-friendly expertise and resources to help you feel understood and supported. At any point in your experience living with dementia or caring for a person with dementia, your local Alzheimer Society is your first place to turn – and the Society’s First Link^® program offers services and information to people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias and caregivers. First Link includes information about risk reduction, living well with dementia, the latest research and advocacy efforts, as well as referrals to programs to help you manage the challenges that dementia can present.

The goal of the Alzheimer Society’s First Link^® program is to ensure that people living with dementia and caregivers have the right support and information, from the time of an initial diagnosis and throughout the progression of the disease.

To get connected to your local Alzheimer Society for support, visit www.alzheimer.ca/FirstLink

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The Light It Up Blue campaign was created to help raise awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias in our local area, and to help our communities become more dementia friendly. For a $20 donation, you will receive a blue light bulb, which can be displayed for the whole month of January to show your support. Each $20 donation enables 1 person to attend a training session where they can learn skills to help recognize, interact with, and understand a person living with dementia when they are in the community or their business.

“The Light It Up Blue Campaign was created to bring our communities together in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease,” said Amanda Stanton, Executive Director of the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka. “This Campaign is helping to create a dementia-friendly community where people living with dementia are understood, respected, and supported.”

But we can’t do this without the community. From governments and local shops to book clubs and churches, we all have a part to play in creating communities where people with dementia feel active, engaged, and valued.

To donate and receive a lightbulb, or for more information about the #LightItUpBlue campaign, visit the Alzheimer Society of Muskoka’s website at www.AlzheimerMuskoka.ca, or call the office at (705) 645 – 5621.

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The Ontario government is investing up to $527,900 to expand the Finding Your Way program through Dementia Friendly Communities so that people living with dementia can be included in all aspects of community life.

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