Longevity is a gift, but with it comes the heightened risk of cognitive decline.
There are now more Canadians aged 65 plus than under 15. More than 1.1 million Canadians are directly or indirectly affected by dementia. Worldwide, 50 million people live with the disease, according to the World Health Organization. Currently, there are no medications that can stop it.
For more than 100 years, Baycrest has been at the forefront of brain health and aging care. Today, we’re using best-in-class care practices to help older adults live their best lives and pioneering innovations in dementia prevention that will set the standard in elder care for years to come.
The possibilities are endless
The year 2022 marked the launch of an exciting long-term memory care model — Possibilities by Baycrest™. It addresses the needs of older adults living in long-term care by moving away from task-based care to a model that focuses on providing an exceptional living experience that maximizes each resident’s potential along their cognitive health journey.
The Possibilities model includes a set of core values, commitments, operational tools, staff roles, a formal training experience, the integration of neuroscience and innovation, and comprehensive, ongoing evaluation. It honours the whole person by facing the realities of living with dementia, understanding their abilities, and then identifying their possibilities. It’s revolutionizing the way we approach aging care.
It addresses the needs of older adults living in long-term care by moving away from task-based care to one that focuses on providing an exceptional living experience that maximizes each resident’s potential along their cognitive health journey.
Virtually unbeatable care
If necessity is the mother of invention, Baycrest developed a great one in response to COVID-19.
With limited specialized care programs available to address dementia-related responsive behaviours such as physical and verbal aggression, we developed the Virtual Behavioural Medicine (VBM) Program. It brings care directly to the patient rather than the reverse by providing access to immediate clinical support.
Our interdisciplinary VBM team virtually assesses the patient and their caregiver and care team. Treatment includes pharmacological recommendations and environmental modification suggestions with regular follow-ups.
The program fills a gap in service for complex dementia cases, dramatically reducing admissions to the hospital. As well, clinicians across Ontario are receiving training in VBM to expand its delivery and serve more patients province-wide.
A wellness centre unlike the rest
The Kimel Family Centre for Brain Health and Wellness, housed on Baycrest’s flagship Toronto campus, is a first-of-its-kind facility featuring an unprecedented convergence of scientific research and evidence-based interventions that will have a measurable impact on the brain health and wellness of older adults in Canada and globally. It builds on nearly 30 years of research from Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute (RRI) to seamlessly integrate brain health workshops, physical fitness, nutrition, sensory and cognitive training, arts programs, and social engagement for older adults.
The Kimel Family Centre prescribes programming tailored to fit older adults’ profiles to reduce their risk factors for dementia. For instance, members’ fitness regimens are monitored as they participate in exercise classes. In addition, nutritional courses are offered to teach eating habits aligned with our Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging (CCNA)-developed Brain Health Food Guide. The centre helps counteract social isolation with groups and clubs, offers many forms of cognitive stimulation, and also aids in stress reduction — all measures that reduce dementia risk.
With world-leading research, innovation, care, and education, Baycrest is committed to ending dementia and giving everyone the tools they need to help Fear No AgeTM.
