CABHI injects $3.3 million funding to boost innovation in elderly care

New program to equip Canadian organizations with 'practical tools, guidance, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities'

CABHI injects $3.3 million funding to boost innovation in elderly care

The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) has announced its support for 22 Canadian organizations to enhance their capacity for adopting innovation in elderly care. Through its Discover and Adopt (D+A) program, CABHI trains long-term care, retirement, and home healthcare organizations to introduce, implement, and sustain innovations addressing their specific challenges – on top of $3.3 million in funding.

“Although organizations are often interested in trying new ideas and approaches to improve care delivery, they may not have the dedicated time, resources, and experience required to find, trial, and sustain innovation in their own settings. The D+A program equips organizations with practical tools, guidance, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities so they are better prepared to implement innovative solutions and improve the quality of life and care for those they serve,” says Dr. Allison Sekuler, president and chief scientist at CABHI.

Following the success of its initial cohort, CABHI has expanded the reach of its D+A program to include more organizations nationwide. The expansion also marks a new partnership between CABHI and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

The CMA is supplementing CABHI's funding in adopting innovative solutions, with a focus on home healthcare and community-based settings.

“The CMA collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders to meet the needs of an aging population, and we are thrilled to partner with CABHI to advance our shared goals of supporting older adults in aging with dignity in community and care settings across the country,” says Allison Seymour, executive vice-president, strategy and partnerships at CMA and president of the CMA Foundation.

Which organizations have received funding?

In Alberta, recipients include Alberta Health Services and the Brenda Strafford Foundation. British Columbia's Island Health, Manitoba's Riverview Health Centre, and Ontario-based organizations such as Baycrest, Bruyere: Saint-Louis Residence, Circle of Care, North York General Hospital, Oak Valley Health, Perley Health, Right at Home Canada, St. Joseph Healthcare Hamilton, St. Joseph Healthcare London, Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, Schlegel Villages, and VHA Home Healthcare are among the beneficiaries.

In Quebec, funding was allocated to CIUSSS du Nord de l'île de Montréal, Groupe Santé Sedna, and Villa Ste-Rose. York Care Centre in New Brunswick and NorthwoodCare and Shannex in Nova Scotia also received support.