|
In this section: Intro | Evaluation Reports On September 10, 1999, the government of Ontario announced
Ontario's Strategy for Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias. The first comprehensive Alzheimer Strategy in Canada,
the government committed to investing $68.4 million over five years (1999 -
2004). The Strategy outlines the following 10 specific, but related initiatives
to improve the quality of life for Ontarians affected by Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias. The Final Evaluation Report 2005 and evaluation reports
for each initiative are available for downloading from the Evaluation
Reports page. Initiatives:
For a snapshot of where each initiative stands,
please see the implementation milestones and status (PDF) document.
Initiative 1 - Staff Education and Training
This initiative is directed towards the provision of
annual training programs for staff working in long-term care (LTC) facilities,
Community Care Access Centres and long-term care community services across the
province who provide service or support to persons living with Alzheimer's
disease or related dementias. To date, a number of projects have been
identified and supported, including the Putting the P.I.E.C.E.S.™ Together learning initiative staff
participation in the college-based
Dementia Studies Certificate Program and equivalent programs, LTC facilities staff
participation in the Alzheimer Society of Canada's Enhancing Care
through the Guidelines for Care program, and the U-First!
education initiative for personal support worker-level staff and their supervisors.
TOP
Initiative 2 - Physician Training
This initiative is directed towards the need for primary care physicians to receive training both in medical school curriculum and on an ongoing basis, to assist them in the early detection, diagnosis and management of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, the implications for the family and on how best to use local community services.
TOP
Initiative 3 - Increase in Public Awareness, Information and Education
This initiative is directed towards the need for increased
public awareness of, and information and education on, Alzheimer's disease and
related dementias. Forty public education coordinators have been hired and
work as part of the local Alzheimer Society chapters to raise
awareness and educate the public, healthcare providers and informal caregivers
about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The funding for this
initiative has been added to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's annual
base budget. For more information, please visit the Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange website.
TOP
Initiative 4 - Planning for Appropriate, Safe and Secure Environments
This initiative is directed towards the need for optimal design of long-term care facilities for residents with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. There have been four annual conferences financed and co-hosted by government with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario and the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Project to explore the creative and functional design of living space for people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. There are plans under way to compile the information from these conferences and create Best Practice guidelines for use by community and institutional settings providing care to people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
TOP
Initiative 5 - Respite Services for Caregivers
This initiative is directed towards the need for the expansion of Alzheimer volunteer respite programs and new Alzheimer day program spaces. Site locations for this initiative were determined using a population needs-based methodology and an evaluation questionnaire has been distributed to Adult Day Programs that received funding through this initiative and results are being tabulated.
TOP
Initiative 6 - Research on Caregiver Needs
This initiative is directed towards the need to
ascertain, document and understand the key services that caregivers need.
The Alzheimer Society of Ontario, the Murray Alzheimer Research and
Education Program (MAREP) and the Caregiver's Association of Ontario undertook this
joint research project. Research includes a literature review and applied research. A
highlights report of the preliminary findings can be accessed on the MAREP website.
TOP
Initiative 7 - Advance Directives on Care Choices
This initiative was created to help seniors and persons
with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Ontario become more aware of
the benefits of Advance Care Planning (ACP) and to assist providers in
respecting the choices people make in the ACP process. In addition to
training many health care providers and long-term care facility
administrators, resource teams have also delivered education locally to public
groups. A guide to Advance Care Planning is available through the Ontario
Seniors’ Secretariat, at local Alzheimer Society chapters or from the Ontario Senior's Infoline at 416-314-7511 or 1-888-910-1999.
TOP
Initiative 8 - Psychogeriatric Consulting Resources
This initiative is directed towards further education and
advice for staff in long-term care facilities and community service
agencies. Psychogeriatric resource consultants advise on how to work
with people who exhibit challenging behaviours attributed to Alzheimer's disease
or related dementias. A Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Regional Work
Group meets bi-monthly to oversee the work of this initiative. The funding
for this initiative has been added to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term
Care's annual base budget. For more information, please visit the Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange
website.
TOP
Initiative 9 - Coordinated Specialized Diagnosis and Support
9A. Dementia Networks This initiative is directed towards the coordination
and promotion of services for persons, families and caregivers living with
dementia through the creation of new networks or the maintenance of
existing dementia networks. These networks do not provide direct services
but provide knowledge transfer and enhance partnerships between sectors. For
more information, please visit the Alzheimer Knowledge Exchange
website.
9B. Research Coalition This initiative is
directed towards bringing together researchers with diverse academic/methodological backgrounds with representation from all regions. The Research Coalition will plan, coordinate and monitor collaborative multidisciplinary Alzheimer research projects.
A steering committee has been formed to guide the
establishment of the Dementia Research Coalition and has developed a strategic
direction document, The Path
Forward: A Strategic Direction for The Ontario Research Coalition on Alzheimer
Disease and Related Dementias 2002 - 2004 (PDF).
9C. Specialized Geriatric Services A two-day consultation was held to define
the scope and mandate of specialized
geriatric services to make their expertise more readily available to people with Alzheimer's disease and their families. The report is being considered by government.
TOP
Initiative 10 - Intergenerational Volunteer Initiative
This initiative was directed towards the recruitment, training and support of students in grades 11 and 12 who volunteer with individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia at long-term care centers and community agencies. This program is continuing at more than half of the original sites through Trillium funding.
TOP
|
