Simcoe County Dementia Network Task Groups
Directory Task Group
2004:Objectives
To develop a directory of services for people with ADRD and their caregivers and physicians (in collaboration with other seniors’ services)
To identify gaps in core services across the continuum
To conduct an inventory of services in Simcoe County based on best practice research.
A major accomplishment of the Directory Task Group is this website.
2007:
The Directory needs to be updated and completed
The identifaction of gaps and an inventory of core services is currently being addressed by the Seniors' Health Planning Committee and the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network
The Dementia Networks of Simcoe and Muskoka are currently engaged in a joint strategic planning initiative to identify future directions and establish a framework for collaboration within the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network. This web site may be redesigned to reflect the outcome of this strategic planning.
Education Task Group
2004:Objective
the establishment of standards for annual dementia education/training for formal caregivers in acute care and LTC facilities and community agencies.
This is a time-limited task group that is making progress towards its goals thanks to the commitment of the committee members.
2007:Update
The Education Committee is now a standing committee of the Dementia Network. Alzheimer Society Public Education Coordinators Laura-Lynn Bourassa and Susan Nagy are the co-chairs.
Report from the Education Task Group
COVER LETTER - SENT WITH REPORT
The Simcoe County Dementia Network began in 2002 as a result of the Ontario government’s investment of funds in the Alzheimer Strategy. A transitional Steering Committee was established to focus on the development of terms of reference and a logic model that would guide their work. Network forums helped to identify the key issues that needed to be addressed with respect to dementia care within Simcoe County. These issues formed the process objectives within our logic model (Appendix A).
In May of 2003, forum participants were asked to identify the three most important issues related to dementia care in our County, one of which was educational standards. As a result, a task group focused on this was formed and began meeting in September 2003. Membership included representatives of long-term care, community agencies, acute care, mental health services, Alzheimer Society chapters, the Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant service, Georgian College, the Orillia Learning Centre and a consumer advocate (Appendix E). This group began reviewing educational programs and resources related to dementia-specific training. During this process the task group became aware of a similar initiative undertaken by the Dementia Network of Ottawa. The task group reviewed the Ottawa draft position paper and recognized that it reflected what we hoped to achieve as well. We concurred with the research they had done to date and felt that we could complement their efforts by shifting our focus. To this end we established a link with the Ottawa Network to show our support of their position paper and a desire to collaborate with them.
The task group determined the next step should be to gather feedback from Personal Support Workers (PSW) employed both in the community and long term care facilities within Simcoe County. We felt that this feedback was needed to lend support to any recommendations that would be made by our group.
We also saw this as an opportunity to complement the work that was being done by the Ottawa Network. In April and May 2004 six discussion groups were held in Simcoe County with PSWs from a variety of agencies. The summary of those sessions, the group demographics and the recommendations that resulted are captured in Appendices B, C and D.
We acknowledge and appreciate the time and effort that these enthusiastic groups contributed.
Recommendations for the future:
We recommend that
• this report be distributed to all of our participants’ employers as well as to all long term care facilities and community agencies in our area.
• the Simcoe County Dementia Network advocate for implementation of these recommendations at a local level.
• the Simcoe County Dementia Network support and participate in the provincial forum proposed by the Ottawa Network in order to further our recommendations provincially.
• the Education/Training Standards Task Group further pursue its objective: the establishment of standards for dementia training and education for formal caregivers in all sectors.
Task Group on Education/Training Standards
Co-Chairs: Mary Lamb and Debbie Fleming
(Logic model and appendices are attached below)
Physician Task Group
Long-term goal
Physicians in Simcoe County are well informed of the Dementia Network, access information regularly and conduct assessments resulting in early diagnosis of their patients.
Short-term goal
To seek one physician who is willing to be involved at the Dementia Network level represent physician issues at monthly meetings and relate issues back to the "physician network".
Objectives:
• Development of a short screening tool for county physicians
• Development of a tool for patient/family referral to community
agencies
• Development of public education materials related to memory problems
• Gather details about the Alzheimer Strategy Physician Peer Presenter
Program and other programs to facilitate physician education in
Simcoe County
Dementia Services Task Group
Goal
To recommend best practice in service provision in our community.
Objectives
1. Determine what services exist.
2. Identify gaps (where are we and where do we need to be?)
3. Accord to best practice (review benchmarks from different services)
4. Feedback to Dementia Network
5 Identify current partnerships/linkages
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