b'DEMENTIA CAREDementia CarePreparedness InitiativeHelping homes assess, strengthen and sustain dementia careBy Ontario CLRI at BaycrestO ntario is on the cusp of aonline preparedness assessment,care and continued efforts to grow profound demographic shift.informed by research on dementiadementia care programs according to Between 2020 and 2050, thecare models, frameworks, educationa changing landscape.number of people living with dementiaand implementation readiness. AHomes are at different points on in the province is projected to rise bytotal of 301 long-term care homestheir implementation journey. Most 202%. With 42% of Ontarians agedcompleted the assessment and 30participating homes identified as being 80 and over who live with dementiaparticipated in follow-up interviews to residing in long-term care, theadd richer, practice-based insights. in the initial implementation stage (99 pressures on homes will continue tohomes; 36.1%), followed by those at grow, and so will the opportunity toAll participating homes received ainstallation (66 homes; 24.1%). This elevate care for residents and families.personalized preparedness profilerange signals both momentum and an highlighting their readiness toopportunity to tailor supports to where Against this backdrop, the Dementiaimplement new or additional dementiaeach home is today.Care Preparedness Initiative (DCPI)care practices, benchmarking set out to learn from long-term carecomparisons with other homes, andCare philosophies are diverse and homes across Ontario and supportclear opportunities to elevate aspectscomplementary. The predominantthem in assessing their readinessof their approach. To recognize thephilosophy reported was to implement, enhance and sustaintime and effort required, financialperson-centred care (262 LTC high-quality dementia care programs. support was provided to eachhomes), followed by emotion- or participating home. relationship-centred care (169 What is DCPI?LTC homes) and strengths-based Led by Baycrest through the OntarioWhat LTC homes told usapproaches (145 LTC homes). Many Centres for Learning, Research andThe assessment and interviewshomes blend these philosophies Innovation in Long-Term Care (CLRI),illustrated the dedication andto meet resident needs in flexible, DCPI is a province-wide initiative tocompassionate care currentlyresponsive ways.assess current dementia care andoccurring in the sector. They alsoPrograms in practice reflect Ontarios prepare homes for the future. Fromrevealed that leadership acrossstrengths. The two most used December 2024 to January 2025, thelong-term care homes shared futureapproaches among respondents were project team created a 30-questionvisions rooted in person-centredthe Ontario 5 STaR Program26 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Spring/Summer 2026'