Vera M. Davis Centre expanding emotion-based dementia care through new provincial program

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In the Ontario Government's plans to strengthen dementia care in long-term care homes, they have announced the first 17 homes participating in the new Improving Dementia Care Program (IDCP), including Caledon's Vera M. Davis Centre.

The centre has been serving the community since its opening in September 1984.

The government will invest $9 million over three years to support this program, which will help improve the quality of life for residents living with dementia while strengthening Ontario's long-term care system.

“Our government is proud to support innovative approaches to dementia care, including right here in Dufferin-Caledon,” says Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon. “By selecting the Vera M. Davis Centre, our government is ensuring residents and families have access to more personalized, compassionate care.”

Ann-Marie Case-Volkert, Senior Director, Long Term Care, Peel Region, says that the centre originally applied for the program as the success of emotion-based care in existing certified home areas, where it has strengthened quality dementia care, demonstrates the need for frameworks that support the equitable spread and scale of approaches like emotion-based care.

The program focuses on building strong relationships between staff, residents and families while creating environments that reflect residents' individual needs and experiences. 

From a day-to-day perspective, Case-Volkert says the program allows them to establish more flexibility in the day, particularly at mealtimes, and increases opportunities for engagement through activities that are familiar and meaningful to each person.

Vera M. Davis Centre will also expand on its Butterfly Model, which features small neighbourhoods, vibrant spaces, and the removal of institutional features to create a more comfortable living environment.

Case-Volkert says that this funding will help extend emotion-based care beyond the current Butterfly home area to all areas of the home.

“The Butterfly Approach to emotion-based care strives to create environments for people living with dementia that are enriching, engaging, and more home-like. Its goal is to meet their emotional needs and encourage self-expression, build meaningful connections, and improve quality of life,” says Case-Volkert.

She adds that the benefits of emotion-based care for residents living with dementia include a high quality of life, no or mild mood symptoms of depression, and high social engagement.

“Emotion-based dementia care focuses on who a person is, not just care tasks, valuing each individual's emotions, personal history, interests, and lived experiences,” says Case-Volkert.

Nando Iannicca, Peel Regional Chair and CEO, stated in a press release that this IDCP funding will allow them to expand the proven benefits of emotion-based care and further enhance the quality of life for residents living with dementia. 

“With the Vera M. Davis Centre becoming the first long-term care centre in Peel Region to implement this model across the entire home, Peel Region continues to strengthen its leadership in emotion-based care,” says Iannicca.