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The Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health (CCSMH) has unveiled a groundbreaking new resource aimed at supporting those living with dementia, their care partners, and healthcare providers. The Behaviours in Dementia Toolkit, now accessible online, offers over 280 free resources designed to address dementia-related mood and behaviour changes, making it a vital tool in the journey to provide compassionate and effective care.
Developed with the expertise of healthcare professionals and enriched by the invaluable perspectives of those with lived experience, the Toolkit stands as a testament to collaborative innovation. Its creation was guided by an expert working group and regularly informed by feedback from individuals living with dementia and their care partners. This collaborative approach has ensured the Toolkit’s resources are not only relevant and credible but also inclusive and practically applicable.
Brenda Martinussen, Director of Projects and Public Policy at CCSMH, highlights the importance of understanding and responding to the behavioural changes often seen in dementia. “Most people with dementia will experience changes in their moods and behaviours,” Martinussen notes. These changes can signal discomfort or distress when individuals struggle to express their needs or interpret their surroundings. The Toolkit offers a wide array of resources, including tip sheets, checklists, videos, and training courses, all designed to aid caregivers and healthcare providers in offering empathetic and informed support.
Dana Human, a psychiatric nurse and Regional Lead for Community and Continuing Care at Southern Health Santé Sud in Manitoba, attests to the Toolkit’s utility for healthcare professionals. It provides a comprehensive collection of resources that assist in navigating the complexities of dementia care, benefiting patients, families, and care teams alike.
For healthcare providers, the Toolkit offers clinical guidelines, tools for assessment, strategies for support with medication management, and techniques for providing care without pharmaceuticals. Care partners, on the other hand, can find explainers on mood and behaviour changes, strategies for effective communication, and advice on self-care, all aimed at fostering a supportive and understanding environment for those living with dementia.
Diane Albrecht, a care partner, praises the Toolkit for its ease of access and reliability. Faced with the daunting task of navigating the vast amounts of information available online, Albrecht finds solace in the Toolkit’s trusted and curated content, which has become a go-to resource in her caregiving journey.
The Behaviours in Dementia Toolkit is remarkably user-friendly, allowing users to filter resources by types of dementia, equity perspectives (including Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIA+, and remote and rural viewpoints), and care settings (such as long-term care, assisted living, and community settings). Additionally, the Toolkit offers multilingual resources in over 52 languages, ensuring broad accessibility and relevance.
This innovative resource reflects CCSMH’s commitment to improving the lives of those affected by dementia through accessible, evidence-informed support. By bridging the gap between knowledge and practice, the Behaviours in Dementia Toolkit empowers care partners and healthcare providers to offer compassionate care tailored to the unique needs of individuals living with dementia. Explore the Toolkit at behavioursindementia.ca to discover a wealth of no-cost, practical resources designed to guide and support the dementia care community.
