LHIN NBRHC bsoA province-wide project that provides support for older adults with responsive behaviours, like roaming, withdrawing or even striking out, is being led locally.

The province’s 14 LHIN’s have agreed to a single provider to lead the province-wide work of Behavioural Supports Ontario.

Officials say based on positive feedback and outcomes of work that she and her regional team have accomplished, North East BSO Regional Manager Monica Bretzlaff, with the North Bay Regional Health Centre, was asked to serve as the project’s provincial manager.

The task involves tracking information and sharing it with the LHINs and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. She will also work with the Alzheimer’s society and other provincial associations to enhance the care for people experiencing responsive behaviours.

In a release, the Northeast LHIN says four integrated BSO response teams of staff are based in community, hospitals, tertiary care and long-term care homes within Northeastern Ontario (Sudbury-Parry Sound-Manitoulin, Nipissing-Temiskaming, Cochrane and Algoma).

Focused on enhancing care and capacity, these hub teams are also linked with key medical and psychiatric specialists who serve as instrumental change agents.

NE LHIN CEO Louise Paquette says “The North East LHIN has invested in specialized training for more than 70 front-line workers, and leveraged BSO training for another 7,500 practitioners already working in the field, to provide older adults with the care they need, as well as coaching families and staff on strategies to help prevent and respond to responsive behaviours,”
She goes on to say, “We look forward to continuing our work with partners to further spread the success of BSO across the region.”

Meantime, Bretzlaff says, “The greatest reward for impacting change is the opportunity to keep change evolving,”
She goes on to say, “I am honoured and excited to represent our NE LHIN, NBRHC and my esteemed regional and provincial care partners in this person-family centred care revolution. Together, we will continue to drive positive system transformation that remains firmly grounded in the lived experience!”

The LHIN says more than 3,170 clients and family members were provided support through BSO in 2013/14, with close to 87,000 client-based services delivered and 6,700 participants in structured learning events.