For Health Care Providers, it is sometimes a challenge to know how to best support clients and families who are experiencing behavioural changes as a result of dementia. In the Toronto Central region, there are many programs and services available to you and your clients to better support their health and well being. Please visit each category for more information, or contact:

 

Behavioural Supports Coordinating Office

   

 

Phone: (416)785-2500 ext. 2005	Toll-Free Line: +1(844)785-2500
Fax: (647)788-4882	Email: BehaviouralSupport@Baycrest.org

 



Referral Forms

**UPDATE: New One Referral Form for Behaviour Support Services in Toronto Region (April 18, 2023)**
**UPDATE: Expansion of BSO Services in Emergency Departments in Toronto Central (Sept 18, 2023)**


BSO Brochure PDF
BSO One Referral Form PDF / Word
Behaviour Supports Algorithm for Toronto Region PDF / Word

Pathways to Support
If you have any difficulty opening any of the linked documents, please right click and save.

Community Pathway
LTC Pathway
Acute Care Pathway
Caregiver Support Pathway
 

BSO Outreach Teams (Community/LTC/Hospital/Transitional Care)

Behavioural Support Outreach Team (BSOT) in all Sectors: Community, LTC and Acute Care
In LTC and Community, an interdisciplinary team of clinicians including Clinician Leaders, Nurse Practitioners, Behaviour Support Specialists, Registered Nurses and Personal Support Works (PSWs) across AST, Baycrest, HCCSS, and Woodgreen.
Acute care teams consist of LOFT BSTR (Psychogeriatric Case Managers and PSWs) and UHN BSS (Behaviour Support Specialists and PSWs)
These outreach-based services engage across all sectors in the short-term (average lengths of service is 8-10 weeks) and focuses on assessment and management of responsive behaviour(s). The team(s) will also support patient transitions between all sectors and will foster collaboration with various resources and care partners. 
Service is delivered virtually and in-person as needed.

BSOT Clinician Roles Pamphlet PDF
BSOT PSW Role Poster PDF

FAQ's

BSOT Caregiver FAQ PDF
BSOT Partner FAQ PDF

Behaviour Support Outreach Team (BSOT) Emergency Department (ED) Program
One of our Advanced Practice Nurses - Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will contact the patient /family/SDM within 3-5 business days to complete an in-depth home behavioural assessment for discharged ED patients. These assessments include an medication reconciliation. If there is no primary care or if the patient is poorly connected to primary care, the NP will assume that role on a short term basis. We work in collaboration with all other healthcare providers involved with the patient.

 

Geriatric Addictions Specialist
Support for older adults with Substance Use Disorders (with or without dementia) who reside in long-term care, or who are transitioning to long-term care. Substance Use Disorders include: addiction to alcohol, opiates, cannabis, nicotine, benzodiazepines and other drugs. The Geriatric Addiction Specialist will support care teams and caregivers with a transition plan to support cessation or harm reduction to ensure safe transition to and or care at the LTCH environment. This includes consulting on cases where the home is considering declining an application due to addiction or substance use.
For more information on Substance Use and Behaviour Support click here.

Caregiver Specialist
The program based at Alzheimer Society of Toronto, funded under BSSP Toronto Central Region. It supports caregivers of people with dementia living in the community, through transitions, and in LTC.

 

Virtual Behavioural Medicine (VBM) Program
The VBM program provides rapid access to short term tertiary level virtual behavioural medicine consultation and pharmacological management of severe unmanaged neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia (responsive behaviours). This service is a collaborative partnership between Baycrest, Toronto Rehab and TC BSO. The VBM team recommend that individuals should first be seen by their local Behavioural Support Outreach Teams and Geriatric Mental Health Outreach Teams/Community Psychogeriatric Outreach Teams/specialists, prior to referring to the program to make best use of local services and encourage continuity of care.

VBM Website
VBM Referral Form ( PDF)
Pamphlet for Family and Caregivers and for Healthcare Providers

Complex Case Resolution Table (CCRT)
The Complex Case Resolution Table is provided by the TC BSO Coordinating Office to escalate and support cases for responsive behaviours that have not successfully resolved with current available behaviour support and specialized services. CCRT brings together specialists, relevant resources and the client care team to mutually discuss the client needs and develop a care plan to address them.



Behavioural Units
Additional Supports in the Community
Additional Supports in LTC
Education Consortium