Rehabilitation for Individuals with Dementia

Our inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry Rehabilitation Service specializes in helping older adults with behavioural challenges caused by dementias, such as:

• agitation
• wandering
• aggression
• resistance to care, and
• lack of awareness of their own needs

These behaviours often interfere with an individual’s safety and quality of life. We specialize in assessing individuals with dementia and helping them, their families and caregivers to manage these behaviours.

 

A Holistic, Personalized Approach

Our approach is holistic. We focus on maximizing quality of life by helping individuals with dementia live as safely and as independently as possible – at home or in care. Our innovative research projects also develop and test practical solutions for the challenges faced by individuals with dementia and their families. Dementia affects each person differently. Our interprofessional health care team works with patients, families and caregivers to develop individualized treatment plans.

As part of the plan, we:

• assess an individual’s ability to perform activities of daily living
• identify challenging behaviours and ways to manage them
• determine the risk of falling and identify interventions
• assess swallowing difficulties to determine safe food/drink choices
• adjust or adapt the environment to meet the individual’s needs
• provide support and education to family and caregivers, and
• develop a safe and effective medication plan.

A Focus On Safety

Patient stays in the unit can be for four weeks or longer, depending on their needs.
While they are with us, individuals take part in daily therapy, including individual and group activities. Family members are encouraged to be involved in the rehabilitation process.

Care is provided in a secure unit. That means the doors of the unit are locked to ensure the well-being of individuals who may be disoriented or at risk of wandering. Some people leave Toronto Rehab and return to living on their own. Others will need the help of family or a daily caregiver. For others, home will be an assisted living facility, a retirement home or long-term care.  Our goal is to help people live safely and independently for as long as possible, regardless of where “home” is

 

Returning Home Safely

Planning begins early to ensure a safe and successful transition when individuals leave Toronto Rehab.

Our health care team works closely with individuals, their family and care providers in the community to put in place supports to help individuals maintain the progress they have made with us.