Author: Lefebvre, Andrea

Central West Behavioural Supports Ontario

Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) provides behavioural health care services for older adults in Ontario with, or at risk of, responsive behaviours or personal expressions associated with dementia, complex mental health, substance use and/or other neurological conditions. The program also provides support to families, care partners and health care providers across the province.
BSO is a provincially funded program that is provided free of charge to the patient and family. Access to the program is provided through Home and Community Care Support Services in the Central West area and their supporting agencies.
How we help
Central Intake and Triage
The BSO team provides clinical triage assessments, safety and risk mitigation, and assistance with health system navigation.
In Long-Term Care Homes
BSO staff are embedded in long-term care homes in the Central West area. They build capacity through participating in quality improvement activities and knowledge transfer between homes.
In the Community
Community services collaborate with health partners and specialized services to provide assessment and education, and to link people living with responsive behaviours complex mental health and their care partners to appropriate and timely resources.
In Hospital
BSO acute interventionists support patients and families as they transition from the hospital to wherever they call home.

Your care team may include
Psychogeriatric Resource Consultants support long-term care homes, hospitals and community agencies by providing consultation, education and system navigation.
Therapeutic Recreation Consultants provide consultations in long-term care homes across the Central West area.
Neurobehavioural Nurse Practitioners support complex long-term care and community patients collaboratively.
Crisis Nurses address emergent behavioural concerns and provide care for people with neurocognitive disorders.
Behavioural Support Community Resource Nurses are registered professionals with training in dementia care and mental health. They are skilled in working across sectors with multiple healthcare providers.
BSO Counsellors offer counselling support and services to families of people living with dementia and neurocognitive disorders throughout their health journey.
BSO supports and strategies may include
Providing tools and activities to reduce anxiety and motivate participation
Completing assessments for care partner supports, neurocognitive, mood and risk assessments
Coordinating and organizing supports
Providing education and skills development
Benefits of BSO support
Fewer emergency department visits
Improved relationships and staff satisfaction
Enhanced quality of life for persons living with dementia and their care partners
Transitional supports to ensure care continuity and integration across health sectors

For more information about the BSO program or for additional resources please visit centralwest.behaviouralsupportsontario.ca.
If you are experiencing a crisis, please call 911, your local crisis services, or CMHA Peel Dufferin’s 24/7 crisis line at 1-888-811-2222.

What are responsive behaviours?
“Responsive behaviours” refers to the actions, words or gestures used by someone who is living with a neurocognitive disorder, such as dementia, to express themselves, problem solve, or communicate unmet needs. These behaviours develop over time and can be challenging for the person and their loved ones to navigate. Understanding the person and adapting to better meet their needs can help to manage and support responsive behaviours.

Partner Agencies
Alzheimer Society of Dufferin County
Alzheimer Society of Peel
CANES Community Care
Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin
Home and Community Care Support Services Central West
Headwaters Health Care Centre
Indus Community Services
Punjabi Community Health Services
Region of Peel
Services and Housing in the Province (SHIP)
William Osler Health System