Baycrest

ENGAGING OLDER ADULTS IN THE 'NEW NORMAL' W hile the initial shock of the pandemic may be behind us, we continue to navigate through a 'new normal' - a life that is very different for everyone, particularly for older adults. As it is, social isolation and access to safe and efficient care are significant concerns for those living in long-term care, retirement residences and alone at home. Physical distancing measures have taken an additional toll and, in turn, there is a greater need to support the older adults in our lives. The importance of keeping older adults safe, engaged and connected has led to a wide range of novel collaborations and high-impact innovations. "In order to keep our older adult population healthy, it is not enough for them to see a physician regularly. They need to be engaged and feel connected to their family and friends." When the World Health Organization (WHO) announced COVID-19 as a global pandemic, the Baycrest Telemedicine Rapid Implementation (TRIM) team was launched as a response. TRIM, co-led by Ron Riesenbach, VP Innovation and Chief Technology Officer, and Dr. David Conn, VP of Education, gathered experts from across Baycrest and beyond to explore and collaborate on methods to share Baycrest's expertise virtually. With the pandemic growing and no time to lose, the TRIM team organized themselves into task forces and got to work developing and deploying solutions that would enable client care, recreational programming, and social engagement to continue even as visiting restrictions came into place and in person programs and services had to be cancelled. Among the solutions developed were low-cost telemedicine carts, dubbed "tCarts". Comprised of iPads, special poles on wheels, webcams, speakerphones, digital stethoscopes and more, these tCarts enabled healthcare providers to access and assess patients and residents anywhere, anytime. According to Dr. Adriana Shnall, Program Director, Clinical Programs, Baycrest@Home, social isolation among older adults is a serious public health concern. "In order to keep our older adult population healthy, it is not enough for them to see a physician regularly. They need to be engaged and feel connected to their family and friends." To reduce the risks, an eVisit program was created to virtualize visits with family and friends using telephone and videoconferencing technology. From birthdays to weddings, older adults were empowered to continue to be a part of major milestones. In addition to the eVisit program, a wide range of experts and creatives came together to keep older adults healthy, active and engaged, both on the Baycrest campus and beyond. 12 12 Brain BrainMatters Matters FALL|WINTER 2020 FALL|WINTER 2020

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