Update on LTC initiatives Long Term Care—Mental Health Framework September 2007- The Long Term Care—Mental Health Framework is an initiative of the Toronto Regional office of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, to respond to the recommendations arising from the Casa Verde inquest in June 2005. The goal of the LTC—Mental Health Framework is to develop an integrated framework of services that could support and provide care for Toronto area residents in long-term care homes, or individuals awaiting placement, who have serious mental illness with related behavioural response issues. The Framework is part of the Toronto Region LTC Homes Bed Strategy which is addressing the need to better serve such individuals. It is intended to set out a variety of resources that should be available for LTC Homes to access and use to meet the needs of these residents. Concerned Friends is represented on the implementation committee which is developing the framework of resources. The emphasis is on a collaborative model that calls upon long-term care homes to work with partners (such as LTC Home Medical Directors and attending physicians, Community Care Access Centres, Psychogeriatric Resource Consultants, Compliance Advisors, hospital emergency units, hospital specialty units, EMS, police) to serve residents with severe behaviours. Homes are encouraged to work out a process and build a good working relationship with their specific partners, so that when an incident occurs, the home will be able to respond quickly and effectively, calling upon the relevant partner(s) for assistance. It is to be hoped that this initiative, if successful, will be implemented through out the province. Cultural Competency Toolkit The Cultural Competency Toolkit steering committee is working toward its goal to provide long-term care homes and other interested organizations with easy-to-use tools to help them offer culturally sensitive services to their residents and families. Project consultants have been hired to identify, develop, compile, evaluate and select the most effective tools, resources, experts and best practice approaches. The consultants are also conducting interviews and focus group sessions in various locations across the province to learn about the many good things that are going on in the field. It is expected that the toolkit will be ready for dissemination by the end of the year. The steering committee consists of representatives from Concerned Friends, the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors, the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils, the Ontario Long Term Care Association, the Ontario Retirement Communities Association, the Multicultural Council for Ontario Seniors, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat. |