A Penetanguishene long-term care home will soon have a new specialized unit designed for those living with dementia and other complex needs.
The province announced Friday it will create four new Behavioural Specialized Units (BSU), including one at Georgian Manor Home for the Aged along with a location in Ajax and two spots in Scarborough.
Under the plan, the province will invest $5.91 million to create the units, which are expected to provide more vulnerable long-term care residents with complex care needs like dementia with safe, quality care in the comfort of a home instead of a hospital.
In announcing the move at a morning event in the GTA, Ontario Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra said creating the units will establish a better system for all involved.
“This is one more way we are taking action to ensure Ontarians have access to more connected, convenient care, while reducing capacity pressures in our hospitals,” Calandra said in a release.
Under the plan, $1.03 million will go to the County of Simcoe operated home in Penetanguishene to create a 16-bed BSU.
The County is working on gathering requested details and is expected to comment on the provincial investment later, an official told MidlandToday.
The county is expected to comment on the investment later, according to communications manager Collin Matanowitsch.
Other investments under the plan include: $1.12 million for a 16-bed BSU at Lakeridge Gardens in Ajax; $1.55 million for a 15-bed BSU at Bendale Acres in Scarborough; and $2.21 million for a 32-bed BSU at Extendicare Rouge Valley in Scarborough.
The province says the four new BSUs with 79 specialized beds build on the government’s previous investment of 62 specialized beds in three existing BSUs at other locations throughout the province.
There are no details, however, on how many jobs each unit will create with the province only noting that they’ll provide increased staffing, a tailored environment, focused behavioural assessment and enhanced care planning for residents.
According to the province, people with complex behaviours like dementia are often more difficult to place in long-term care homes because of the specialized care required to support them.
“Expanding the number of BSU beds helps increase the number of complex Alternate Level of Care hospital patients and community members who can get the care they need in long-term care homes and avoid hospitalization,” the government noted in a release.