NEXT LEARNING
NEW LEARNING CENTRE ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR SPECIALIZED HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS
Today's seniors are entering long-term care at a more advanced age than in the past and presenting with multiple and increasingly complex health conditions, so the demand for health professionals trained in caring for this vulnerable population continues to grow.
To help address the need, Baycrest is being funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to establish a Centre of Learning, Research and Innovation (LRI) in Long-Term Care, serving our region. The centre is one of only three in the province.
As part of the LRI mandate, several areas of Baycrest's Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged will become inter-professional learning units. To fulfill our role as a Toronto lead for the Behav- ioural Supports Ontario (BSO) strategy, these clinical teaching units will initially focus on educa- tion and training around behaviour management as a key priority. Baycrest health-care profession- als and other long-term care staff in the GTA will acquire expertise in dealing with persons who exhibit challenging behaviours due to dementia and other neurological conditions.
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Frontline staff will be trained in best care practices, as will students from a variety of health disciplines. A core course in geriatrics and long-term care will be offered, as well as an annual conference, a summer internship and a mentoring program.
"We have expertise in brain function and dementia, as well as mental health," says Dr. David Conn, vice-president of Education and academic head of the Centre for Education and Knowledge Exchange in Aging at Baycrest. "Our nursing home is part of a large academic health science centre. We have researchers and educators at Baycrest, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, so we are leveraging our existing strengths."
Dr. Conn and Dr. Paul Katz, vice-president of Medical Services and chief of staff, who are co-heads of the new Centre, hope that the increased focus on behaviour management will enhance care for individuals across the system, both in terms of assessment and in finding optimal best practices for treatment.
2011/12 Baycrest and Baycrest Foundation Annual Report 23
