Baycrest

Expanding access to critical services for individuals living with dementia Baycrest has been granted a $2.6 million investment to sustain and expand its Virtual Behavioural Medicine program (VBM), as part of Ontario's Plan to Stay Open: Health System Stability and Recovery. Provided by the Ministry of Long-Term Care (MLTC), the funding will allow the program to serve up to 300 clients per year, supporting the government's plan to expand access to specialized supports and services, including behavioural support for individuals living with dementia. Created under the leadership of Dr. Morris Freedman (Senior Scientist, Rotman Research Institute and Head of Neurology, Baycrest), VBM offers virtual assessment and management for individuals living with dementia in acute-care hospitals, long-term care homes, or in the community who are exhibiting severe responsive behaviours such as aggression, agitation, and hallucinations. As part of the program's expansion, the Centre for Education is designing a curriculum to teach healthcare providers at sites beyond Baycrest how to deliver VBM to their clients, thus extending access to this innovative care model to more people living with dementia and their caregivers. In addition, KL-CARE is leading an evaluation of the VBM program. The team is examining processes and implementation of the program; client, family, and healthcare providers' experiences with VBM; and training outcomes. The results will help further optimize VBM to enhance care for clients and their families and scale the program broadly. Knowledge mobilization and strategic partnerships We are pleased to share that we have appointed a new Director of Knowledge Mobilization and Strategic Relations, Shusmita Rashid. Under her guidance, the Academy is engaging diverse communities through outreach events, and facilitating stakeholder dialogue and knowledge exchange among older adults, care partners, health professionals, researchers, innovators, and policymakers. In addition, the Academy is expanding and strengthening its local, national, and international partnerships across the research, education, and innovation ecosystems. This work will help ensure that as many people as possible benefit from the incredible knowledge generated at Baycrest. Knowledge Mobilization, Community Outreach, and Thought Leadership Educators and researchers from the Baycrest Academy influence several programs, practices, and policies both across Canada and around the world. 2022–2023 ANNUAL REPORT 25

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