Business View Magazine - September 2015

98 Business View - September 2015 Business View - September 2015 99 Regina Mitchell is Providence Manor’s Director of Care. She elaborates upon Nowlan’s depiction: “At times we also do see younger residents coming to the Home – individuals who are younger than the age of 65. This is becoming a lot more common. These individuals re- quire care and a place to live often as a result of an acquired brain injury. One of the changes we are start- ing to notice, especially in the last five years, is the increased level of care needs of the residents coming into the Home. Because of their increased care needs, our staff requires more skills to help residents with complicated behavioral needs.” Nowlan adds, “The changing face of long-term care is dramatic. A couple of years ago, we had a resident who had lived here for 40 years, pass away. That’s not happening, anymore. The average length of stay, now, is about two years. People come in - often at the end of their life and are staying for a much shorter period of time.” Because the care for the vulnerable elderly has be- come more complex, Nowlan relates that the Manor has recently joined a program called “Behavioral Sup- ports Ontario,” a $40 million provincial investment in partnership with all Ontario Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), designed to enhance healthcare services for older Ontarians who are at risk of, or expe- riencing, “responsive” behaviors. (Responsive behav- iors may include wandering, aggression, resistance, or many other types of behaviors occurring as a result of an unmet need or desire that can no longer be com- municated by the individual, such as pain, confusion within their environment, or other social triggers.) Healthcare Healthcare