Dryden and Kenora LTC homes to participate in dementia care program
Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care in Kenora and Princess Court in Dryden are among 17 long-term care (LTC) homes in the province planning to adopt new models of dementia care as part of Ontario’s Improving Dementia Care Program (IDCP).
The province is investing $9 million over three years into the ICDP to help LTC homes implement new emotion-based strategies for caring for dementia patients.
The new care strategies for dementia care include the Butterfly model, which emphasizes bright and colourful spaces to contrast with a sterile white hospital environment, and the Eden Alternative, which is meant to address loneliness and boredom through cultural changes.
Princess Court in Dryden will be adopting the Eden Alternative, while Wiigwas Elder and Senior Care in Kenora will adopt the Butterfly method.
Provincial Long-term care minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta delivered the ICDP announcement on Tuesday.
She compared the severity of a dementia diagnosis on families with cancer diagnoses, but said the support available to families of dementia patients does not compare to that of cancer patients.
“The same path does not exist, and it’s much more fragmented for those living with dementia,” she said.
The 17 homes announced by the province only represent a first round of adoption, with the IDCP program aiming to fund nearly 50 homes by 2027-2028.
Minister Kusendova-Bashta underlined that staff training and tools represent a big piece of the puzzle for improved dementia care as well.
Tuesday’s announcement also included a provincial investment in Behavioural Specialized Units (BSUs), which are services for patients with complex needs, including dementia.
The province will be investing $3.35 million for the 2025-2026 year, and $9.82 million annually going forward to add BSU beds in facilities across Ontario.
