The Leading Healthcare Quality Summit & Innovations Expo is an annual interactive forum sponsored by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Health Quality Ontario and the Ontario Hospital Association. At this year’s forum, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario presented two initiatives that are breaking new ground in health-service quality and making a real difference in the lives of seniors.

First Link^® is the first referral service of its kind in Canada that immediately connects people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and their families to the right services and support in their community. It’s a unique collaboration between the Alzheimer Society and health-care professionals that gets people connected early in the disease process. The program provides them with the resources and information they need to plan for the future.

Another first is the Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) and is geared to individuals who experience challenging behaviours as a result of a mental health or neurological condition like dementia. In partnership with Ontario’s LHINs, BSO will provide funding for new staff, such as nurses, and train them in the specialized skills needed to better care for people with challenging behaviours. Better knowledge and training will lead to improved care and avert difficult situations before they happen.

These are but two examples of how the Alzheimer Society of Ontario is collaborating with health and community partners to ensure Ontarians with dementia receive the best possible care in the most timely and efficient way.

To learn more about our work, visit www.alzheimerontario.org