The Ontario government has created newly specialized care units to look after vulnerable long-term care residents with complex care needs such as dementia.
Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has invested $5.9 million to create Behavioural Specialized Units (BSU) at LTC homes in Southern Ontario — in Ajax, Penetanguishine and Scarborough.
Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra said expanding availability of long-term care beds for residents with complex needs will help ensure people with unusual conditions get the care they need while avoiding unnecessary hospitalization.
“This is one more way we are taking action to ensure Ontarians have access to more connected, convenient care, while reducing capacity pressures in our hospitals,” Calandra said.
The ministry said the new BSU unit investments will create 79 new beds at the following homes:
- $1.12 million for a 16-bed BSU at Lakeridge Gardens in Ajax, operated by Lakeridge Health;
- $1.03 million for a 16-bed BSU at Georgian Manor Home for the Aged in Penetanguishene, operated by Simcoe County;
- $1.55 million for a 15-bed BSU at Bendale Acres in Scarborough, operated by the City of Toronto; and
- $2.21 million for a 32-bed BSU at Extendicare Rouge Valley in Scarborough, operated by Extendicare Canada Inc.
The new beds are in addition to a previous investment of 62 specialized beds in three existing BSUs at other locations throughout the province, said the ministry. The province said the new units will see additional staffing, a tailored environment, focused behavioural assessment and enhanced care planning.
The ministry said the new behavioural care units are important because patients with complex behaviours such as dementia are often more difficult to place in long-term care homes because of the specialized care required to support them. Expanding the number of BSU beds helps increase the number of complex Alternate Level of Care hospital patients and community members who can get the care they need in long-term care homes and avoid hospitalization, said the ministry.
