Baycrest

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BAYCREST BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF BAYCREST NEXT THINKING The concept is synonymous with Baycrest, a pioneer in the field of seniors' health care and aging since its inception 94 years ago. This organization is always looking forward, thinking ahead, never settling for the status quo. How can we do it better? How can we help others do it better? WATCH Evidence of this forward thinking is in our many accomplishments over the years. This year was no exception. Accreditation Canada gave Baycrest an A-plus for excellence in senior care, safety and opera- tions management, citing three of our programs as exemplars of leading practice for the country. A ranking of "accredited with exemplary standing" places us in the top five per cent of the more than 1,000 organizations surveyed across the country. We went to Washington, D.C. to debut the world's first functioning virtual brain at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience attended by 32,000 scientists and clinicians from around the world. We received significant support from the Ontario government, underscoring the special role Baycrest plays in the health care system. The Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation has agreed to invest $14.1 million over the next three years to support continued innovations at Baycrest. The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care chose Baycrest to lead the Toronto portion of a province- wide support strategy for people who exhibit 2 2011/12 Baycrest and Baycrest Foundation Annual Report behavioural problems due to dementia and other neurological conditions. Baycrest was one of three organizations desig- nated by the province as a Centre of Learning, Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care. As part of that designation, we are creating inter- professional teaching units in our nursing home to train frontline staff and other health professionals and students, from Baycrest and other facilities, in best, evidence-based approaches to care. How many seniors' health sciences centres can claim to have been cited for the nation's highest standards of quality care in the same year as being asked to lead two major initiatives for the province's seniors, and launching a virtual brain? These successes demonstrate Baycrest's relent- less focus on leading the way, all in the name of delivering the best quality of care at the bedside, in the community and around the globe. These are the kinds of innovations and accomplishments that set us apart and bring us closer to achieving our ultimate ambition of enhancing the experience of what it means to grow old.

• Cover