TORONTO — The Ontario government is celebrating the opening of a 17-bed Behavioural Specialized Unit (BSU) at Kipling Acres long-term care home in Etobicoke that will connect residents with cognitive conditions, like dementia to the care they need.
“I would like to congratulate Kipling Acres on the opening of the new Behavioural Specialized Unit. Our government is fixing long-term care and ensuring we provide specialized care that seniors deserve,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “This new unit will provide 17 residents with specially-trained staff to provide the care that meets their needs while helping to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.”
These 17 new BSU beds are part of the government’s additional $46 million investment over the next three years to add more than 200 new BSU beds and support the continued operation of its existing 59 BSU beds across the province.
People with complex behaviours due to cognitive conditions, like dementia, need specialized care to support them. BSUs provide person-centred care by specialized staff who tailor therapies to the individual, based on their physical, emotional, and cultural needs. This helps residents get the care they need in the comfort of a long-term care home instead of in a hospital, which also helps ensure there are complex Alternate Level of Care hospital beds available for those who need them most.
The government is fixing long-term care to ensure Ontario’s seniors get the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve. The plan is built on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe and comfortable homes; and connecting seniors with faster, more convenient access to the services they need.