Session 1: Welcome and Lived Experience

After a welcome from conference hosts, speakers shared their personal experience and identified what they believe is needed for older adults with complex conditions, including mental health and frailty.

Speakers: Cynthia Martineau, Anne-Marie Yaraskavitch and Blayne Mackey
Recording: View Session1 Webinar

Resources:
• Speaking Notes – Lived Experience – Anne-Marie Yaraskavitch
• Speaking Notes – Lived Experience – Blayne Mackey

Session 2: Design Elements of Integrated Care for Older Adults and the Indicators for Integrated Care for Older Adults projects and Lessons Learned

Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario shared evidence specific to the needs older adults with complex needs. They described design elements and indicators of integrated care. A panel of speakers participated in a moderated discussion, reflecting on what has failed this population and what we have learned over the last several years. They put a particular focus on gaps that emerged in the last two years during the pandemic.

Speakers: Kelly Kay, Dr. Benoit Robert, Dr. Lindy Killik and Dr. Jenny Ingram
Recording: View Session 2 Webinar

PDF Slides:
• Designing to Address the Requirements for Older Person’s Care in Ontario – Kelly Kay

Resources:
• Designing Integrated Care for Older Adults Living with Complex and Chronic Health Needs: A Scoping Review
• Honouring Voices and Experiences
• PGLO Specialized and Focused Geriatric Asset Mapping Initiative
• AVOID Frailty
• Indicators for Integrated Older Persons’ Care in Ontario Initiative
• Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment
• Family Presence in Older Adult Care A Statement Regarding Family Caregivers1,2,3 and the Provision of Essential Care

References:
1. Canadian Institute for Health Information. Canada’s Health Care Providers, 2015 to 2019 — Data Tables.
2. Seitz, D. (2019). A population based study of older adults in Ontario: Dementia, frailty and utilization of physician specialist human resources.
3. Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario. Frailty Estimates by Census Division and Ontario Health Region.
4. Richter, L., Heidinger, T. (2021). Hitting Close to Home: The Effect of COVID-19 Illness in the Social Environment on Psychological Burden in Older Adults, Frontiers in Psychology, 12, p 4160
5. Tyler et al. (2021). A Study of Older Adults’ Mental Health across 33 Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 5090.
6. Hoffman, G. (2021). Physical functioning and falls during the COVID-19 pandemic.
7. Tosato M et al. (2021). Prevalence and Predictors of Persistence of COVID-19 Symptoms in Older Adults: A Single-Center Study. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 22(9):1840-1844. Doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2021.07.003
8. Goveas, J. S., & Shear, M. K. (2020). Grief and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Older Adults. The American journal of geriatric psychiatry: official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(10),1119–1125.
9. Schuster, N.A., de Breij, S., Schaap, L.A. et al. Older adults report cancellation or avoidance of medical care during the COVID-19pandemic: results from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam. Eur Geriatr Med 12, 1075–1083 (2021).
10.Canadian Institute for Health Information (2020). 1 in 9 new long-term care residents potentially could have been cared for at home.
11.Canadian Institute for Health Information. Profile of Clients in Home Care, 2019–2020. Ottawa, ON: CIHI; 2021

Session 3: What is needed to support this population?

A panel of speakers participated in a moderated discussion, reflecting on what is needed to support this population. They discussed what transformation could look like and how a post-COVID system of support can and should differ from the structures and services in place for older adults with complex needs and their caregivers before the pandemic.

Speakers: Dr. John Puxty, Dr. Sophiya Benjamin, Dr. Sina Sajed and Charissa Levy
Recording: View Session 3 Webinar

Resources:
• Pandemic Recovery Planning for Older Adults
• Position Statement for Mental Health Care in Long-Term Care During COVID-19

References:
1. Overview of Rehab Care Alliance initiatives with a focus on older adults
2. Rehabilitative Care: An Essential Component of Connected Care — A Guide for Ontario Health Teams provides an overview of how rehab contributes to the quadruple aim and the implications for OHTs.
3. Patient and System-Level Benefits of Rehabilitative Care: A primer to support planning by OHTs and Ontario Health provides an accessible overview of current evidence to help OHTs better understand the role rehabilitative care can play in improving outcomes.
4. Rehabilitative care for older adults living with or at risk of frailty: From Frailty to Resilience. Joint publication of the Rehabilitative Care Alliance and Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Office – to be published in November, 2021.
5. Realizing the Potential of Rehabilitative Care for People with Complex Health Conditions: The Time Is Now. Levy, C., Balogh, S., Perkins, E. Healthcare Quarterly, 19(2) July 2016: 49-54. doi:10.12927/hcq.2016.24699
6. Aging Well Report
7. Pandemic Recovery Planning: Enhancing Care for Older Adults in Ontario
8. PGLO and RGPs of Ontario Position Statement. The Need for Expert Clinical Care for Older People Living with Complex Health Conditions: Required Services in Every Ontario Health Team
9.The Impact of COVID-19 on Older Adults: Findings from the 2021 International Health Policy Survey of Older Adults
10.Leading Practices to Prevent Hospitalization and Extended Stays for Older Adults: Previously known as the ‘2017 Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Leading Practices User Guide’. Ontario Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Leading Practices Working Group (2021) (to be published)

Session 4: Lived Experience, Collaboration with CSS Sector, Community Paramedicine, GeriMedRisk and GEM Fellowship

The morning began with a caregiver describing their experience within the health care system, with an emphasis on what has worked well. Presenters described innovative strategies such as community paramedicine, GeriMedRisk, a geriatric emergency management fellowship initiative, and collaborations with community support services.

Speakers: Gweneth Gowanlock, James Meloche, Dr. Mark Lachmann, Mathieu Grenier, Pam Howell and Karen Hicks
Recording: View Session 4 Webinar

PDF Slides:
• Lived Experience – Gweneth Gowanlock
• Collaboration with Community Support Service Sector – James Meloche
• Community Paramedicine – Mathieu Grenier
• GeriMedRisk – Pam Howell
• GEM Fellowship – Karen Hicks

Resources:
• Fisher P, Elnitsky C. ( 2012) Health and social services integration: a review of concepts and models. Social Work in Public Health, 27, 441-468.
• Paramedic County of Renfrew
• How to make a referral to GeriMedRisk (including the communication tool)
• Register for GeriMedRisk monthly rounds
• Access freely available Drug information summary documents
• Geri-EM Personalized E-Learning in Geriatric Emergency Medicine
• SIGECAPS Depression Screening Can Help Depressive Disorder
• Understanding Motivational Interviewing
• Timed Up & Go (TUG)
• Mini-Cog Test for Dementia and Alzheimer’s: Accuracy, Administration & Scoring
• The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)
• Mukhalalati BA, Taylor A. Adult Learning Theories in Context: A Quick Guide for Healthcare Professional Educators. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development. January 2019. doi:10.1177/2382120519840332

Session 5: Concurrent Session A: Integrated Care

During this concurrent session speakers described local and regional examples of integrated care strategies including: a focus on integration between geriatric medicine and geriatric psychiatry at Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, a conceptual model of acute care dementia care from The Ottawa Hospital, an Integrated Memory Clinic at Providence Care, and North Simcoe Muskoka’s successes with integrated, high intensity supports for older adults.

Speakers: Dr. Kevin Young, Dr. Frank Molnar, Dr. John Puxty and Sandra Easson-Bruno
Recording: View Session 5 Webinar

PDF Slides:
• Integrating Care in a Mental Health Institution – Kevin Young
• Acute Care Dementia Care Conceptual Model at the Ottawa Hospital – Dr. Frank Molnar
• Integrated Memory Clinic Providence Care Hospital – Dr. John Puxty
• System Approach to Integrated Care – Sandra Easson-Bruno

Resources:
• Improving BC’s care for persons with dementia in emergency departments and acute care hospitals (2011): see page 13
• Dementia care in the acute hospital setting: issues and strategies, a report for Alzheimer’s Australia (2014): see page 12
• Irish National Audit of Dementia Care, version 2 (2020): see page 26

Session 6: Behavioural Supports Ontario

During this concurrent session speakers described innovation within the Behaviorual Supports Ontario (BSO), including: a capacity building strategy for BSO in the South East, BSO service delivery in multiple sectors across Central East, and how Behavioural Technologists are supporting BSO in Champlain.

Speakers: Kim Schryburt-Brown, Kelly Davies, Brandi Flowers, Kaitlin Loudon and Nancy Lesiuk
Recording: View Session 6 Webinar

PDF Slides:
• Capacity Enhancement in South East – Kelly Davies and Kim Schryburt-Brown
• Central East Behavioural Supports Ontario Service Delivery in Multiple Sectors – Brandi Flowers and Kaitlin Loudon
• Behaviour Therapy Supporting BSO – Nancy Lesiuk

Session 7: Adult Day Programs

During this concurrent session speakers described innovation adult day programs, including: virtual adult day program support, behavioural support to adult day programs and a developmental evaluation of adult day programs.

Speakers: Rhonda Schwartz, Dr. Sabeen Ehsan, Natasha Poushinsky, Jennifer McDonnell, Gillian Barrie and Margaret Camp
Recording: View Session 7 Webinar

PDF Slides:
• Developmental Evaluation of Central East Intra-COVID Hybrid ADP Model – Sabeen Ehsan and Rhonda Schwartz
• Enhancing Behaviour Supports in Community Settings: The Champlain Adult Day Program Pilot Project – Natasha Poushinsky
• Virtual Day Programs Central East – Jennifer McDonnell Gillian Barrie and Margaret Camp

Resources:
• Ontario Health (East) Central East Region Intra-COVID Hybrid Adult Day Program Model Guidelines

Session 8: Central Intake

During this concurrent session speakers described a provincial central intake project as well as specialized geriatric service coordinated access in WaterlooWellington, Hamilton-Niagara-Haldimand-Brant, and Champlain regions.

Speakers: Jane McKinnon-Wilson, Jenny Siemon, Adam Morrison and AnnMarie Dimillo
Recording: View Session 8 Webinar

PDF Slides:
• Waterloo Wellington Development of Clinical Intake – Jane McKinnon-Wilson
• BSO/SGS Central Clinical Intake: Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant – Jenny Siemon
• PGLO SGS Coordinated Access Project – Adam Morrison
• Champlain Regional Sub-Acute Coordinated Access – AnnMarie DiMillo

Session 9: Lived Experience and Evidence

During this session speakers shared their experience and recommendations for what transformative care should look like. Presenters described how provincial and regional evaluations and best practice guides can inform and shape post recovery planning.

Speakers: Catherine Ingram, Art Seymour, Kelly Kay, Stacey Hawkins, Ronaye Gilsenan and Dana Corsi
Recording: View Session 9 Webinar

PDF Slides:
• Lived Experience – Catherine Ingram and Art Seymour
• From Recovery Planning to Transformation – Kelly Kay
• Using Developmental Evaluation – Stacey Hawkins and Ronaye Gilsenan
• Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Leading Practices Guide – Dana Corsi

Resources:
• 2021 Health System Concerns (Sept 1, 2021) by Art Seymour
• #IAMRESILIENT Project – Honouring Older Ontarians and their resilience [Video]
• Pandemic Recovery Planning for Older Adults
• PGLO events
• Making Canada the best place in the world to age by 2030: a senior centric strategy
• Aucoin, P. & Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (2005). Decision-making in government: The role of program evaluation. Ottawa, ON: Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
• Donebedian, A. (1966). Evaluating the quality of medical care. The Millbank Quarterly, 44(3), 166-206.
• Dozois, E., Langlois, M., & Blanchet-Cohen, N. & The J.W. McConnel Family Foundation for the International Institute for Child Rights and Development (2010). DE 201: A practitioner’s guide to developmental evaluation.
• Gamble, J. A. A., & The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation (2008). A developmental evaluation primer.
• Mark, M.M., Henry, G.T., & Julnes, G. (2000). Evaluation: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Guiding, and Improving Policies and Programs. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
• Patton, M. (2011). Developmental Evaluation: Applying complexity concepts to enhance innovation and use. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.
• Westley, F., Zimmerman, B., & Patton, M. (2009). Getting to maybe: How the world is changed. Toronto, ON: Random House of Canada.

Session 10: Virtual Care

During this session speakers discussed virtual care strategies, with an emphasis on what works post-COVID, for whom, and when.

Speakers: Kelly Macintyre Muddle, Melanie Briscoe, Krista Dineley, Hyemi Lee, Taryn Mackenzie and Dr. Shirley Huang

Recording: View Session 10 Webinar

PDF Slides:
• Leveraging Virtual Care Strategies – Melanie Briscoe and Kelly McIntyre Muddle
• Virtual Care in GAIN Clinics – Krista Dineley and Hyemi Lee
• Geriatric Medicine Clinics Hybrid Model – Taryn MacKenzie and Shirley Huang

Resources:
• Leveraging Virtual Care Strategies in Delivery of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA)
• Virtual Care Decision Tool for Older Persons’ Care
• Health and Safety Guidance During COVID-19 For Physician and Primary Care Provider Employers
• Privacy and security considerations for virtual health care visits
• The Virtual Neurologic Exam: Instructional Videos and Guidance for the COVID-19 Era (Hussonaa et al., 2020) Videos are in Supplemental Materials: https://doi.org/10.1017/cjn.2020.96

Session 11: Aging at Home and Conference Wrap up

During this session, speakers addressed recommendations that emerged from the Ageing Well Report and transformation that has happened as a result.
Speakers: Don Drummond and Dr. Duncan Sinclair
Recording: View Session 11 Webinar

PDF Slides:
• Key Messages from Transforming Care Supporting Older Adults PostCOVID in Ontario – John Puxty

Resources:
• Ageing Well Report
• AVOID Framework

• Adam Morrison ~ Director, Policy and Planning – Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario - Adam Morrison (he/him) is a public policy professional with more than a dozen years of leadership experience in health care, social services, Indigenous relations, and post-secondary education administration.
• Anne-Marie Yaraskavitch ~ Older Adult/Care Partner Representative, Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario Steering Committee - Anne-Marie, a resident of Whitby, has focused her volunteer efforts since her retirement in 2001 at system planning tables within health care, with a special interest in the health and social care and support needs of older adults living with complex and chronic health conditions and their care partners.
• AnnMarie DiMillo RN, BScN ~ Program Manager – Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario - AnnMarie has had a career in nursing and health care for over 35 years. She has worked as a nurse, an educator, and a manager in tertiary care hospitals and in the community. She is currently a program manager with the Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario and oversees the Central Intake for Specialized Geriatric Services program based at The Ottawa Hospital.
• Art Seymour ~ Patient Advocate - Art spent over 35 yrs. in The Canadian Air Navigation System. Before retiring from Transport Canada, Art directed large 24/7 operations across Canada, consisting of over 800 staff at over 90 locations , keeping the “highways in the sky” safe for millions of the flying public. Art and his wife, Yvonne, have been involved in community volunteering across various community sectors in the Cobourg area over the last 18 years.
• Benoît Robert ~ Chief Medical Officer – Perley Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre - Dr. Benoît Robert is the President of the Ontario Long-Term Care Clinicians. He is also the Chief Medical Officer at the Perley Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre.
• Blayne Mackey ~ Caregiver  - My name is Blayne Mackey. I am 73. I have a diploma in Civil Technology, a B.Sc. in Mathematics and completed half of a M. Ed.. I spent most of my career at St Lawrence College. I held a number of positions before retiring as a Vice President in 2011. 
• Brandi Flowers ~ Regional Manager – Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network (GAIN) and Community Behavioral Supports Ontario Clinicians - Brandi Flowers is the Regional Manager for Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network (GAIN) and Community Behavioral Supports Ontario (BSO) Clinicians. She is a skilled leader with compassion and ambition who strives to provide optimal care for older adults living in the community with frailty.
• Catherine Ingram ~ Patient Care Partner Representative – Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario  - In Montreal Catherine  worked as a Manager in the manufacturing Industry, procurement and production planning, for over 20 years and in Whitby as a part time Library Assistant at WPL from 2002-2016,  then as a call in from 2017-2020.  She has been working at the Oshawa Senior Community Centres for the past 25 years.  She is the Supervisor of the Conant Branch Adult Day Program. 
• Charissa Levy ~ Executive Director – Rehab Care Alliance - Charissa Levy is Executive Director of the Rehabilitative Care Alliance, a provincial organization established by the 14 LHIN CEOs in 2013. She is an Occupational Therapist and has held clinical and leadership positions in healthcare for over twenty years.
• Dana Corsi ~ Geriatric Rehab Lead & Interprofessional Implementation Fellow, North East Specialized Geriatric Centre - Dana is an Occupational Therapist with nearly 20 years of frontline clinical experience and holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Quality from Queen’s University. As Regional Geriatric Rehab Lead with the North East Specialized Geriatric Centre, Health Sciences North, Dana provides leadership for the planning, development and implementation of best practice rehabilitative care for older adults across all levels of the health system
• Donald Drummond ~ Adjunct Professor & Stauffer-Dunning Fellow, School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University - In 2011-12, Mr. Drummond served as Chair for the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services. Mr. Drummond previously held a series of progressively more senior positions in the areas of economic analysis and forecasting, fiscal policy and tax policy during almost 23 years with Finance Canada.
• Dr. Frank Molnar ~ Medical Director, Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario – Professor of Medicine, University of Ottawa - Dr. Molnar is Medical Director of the Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario and Professor of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. He has served on the Canadian Geriatric Society (CGS) Executive since 2000 in a variety of roles including Vice-President, President, first webmaster and several stints as Secretary-Treasurer. Dr. Molnar has served as CGS representative to the International Associations of Geriatrics and Gerontology and Canadian Medical Association. 
• Dr. Jennifer Ingram ~ Founder – Medical Director & Principal Investigator – Kawartha Centre ~ Redefining Healthy Aging - Dr. Ingram is the Founder, Medical Director of the Kawartha Centre – Redefining Healthy Aging, a community-based geriatric clinic and clinical research site. Dr. Ingram was pivotal in implementing the Seniors Care Network and Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network (GAIN) teams serving frail and rural seniors.
• Dr. John Puxty ~ Geriatrician and Chair of the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Queen’s University; Director of the Centre for Studies in Aging and Health - Dr. John Puxty is a Geriatrician, Associate Professor and Chair of the Division of Geriatric Medicine at Queen’s University, Director of the Southeastern Ontario Regional Geriatric Program and the Centre for Studies in Aging and Health and Chair of the Seniors Health Knowledge Network and Ontario Interdisciplinary Council for Aging and Health.
• Dr. Kevin Young ~ Medical Director of Integrated Care – Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care - Dr. Young completed his PhD at the University of Toronto in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology. He subsequently completed his medical degree at the University of Toronto, and then a residency in Internal Medicine and a Fellowship in Geriatric Medicine. 
• Dr. Mark Lachmann ~ Physician Lead, Bridgepoint Campus of Sinai Health; Geriatric Psychiatrist; Assistant Professor, Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Toronto; Investigating Coroner, Province of Ontario; Medical Director, Geriatric Psychiatry, Provincial Geriatric Leadership Office - Dr. Lachmann is the Medical Lead of the Bridgepoint Site of the Sinai Health System. He is a geriatric psychiatrist working with patients in acute, rehabilitation, long-term care, and community settings.
• Dr. Sina Sajed ~ Family Physician & Primary Care representative, Seniors Care Network (Central East LHIN) - Dr. Sina Sajed is a Family Physician with a certificate of added competency in the Care of the Elderly and focused practice designation in Geriatric Medicine.  He is also the Primary Care representative, Seniors Care Network (Central East LHIN). Physician Lead MINT Memory Clinic (Durham and Scarborough). Consulting physician, Toronto Memory Program. Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Queen's University. 
• Dr. Sophiya Benjamin MBBS, FRCP(C) ~ Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences at McMaster University - Dr. Benjamin is Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at McMaster University and the Postgraduate Research Lead for Psychiatry at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Waterloo Regional Campus. 
• Duncan Sinclair ~ Professor Emeritus, School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University - Professor emeritus of Physiology, Dr. Sinclair was Queen’s Dean of Arts and Science (1974-83), Director General of Program Operations of the Medical Research Council of Canada (1983-4), Queen’s Vice-Principal Institutional Relations (1984-6), Operations (1986-8), Health Sciences and Dean, Faculty of Medicine (1988-96).
• Gillian Barrie ~ Director – Clinical Services – Alzheimer Society of Durham Region - Gillian has over 10 years of experience providing clinical care and support to adults and older adults living in the community. As a member of the senior leadership team at the Alzheimer Society of Durham Region, Gillian provides clinical expertise to program development, innovation, and service delivery to support individuals living with dementia and their care partners. 
• Gweneth Gowanlock – Caregiver - As a caregiver for nearly ten years, Gweneth cared for her husband diagnosed with frontotemporal lobe dementia.  She retired early from a senior executive role in Health Canada after 25 years in policy and management
• Hyemi Lee ~ Nurse Practitioner – Scarborough Health Network, General Hospital – GAIN Clinic - Hyemi Lee is a Nurse Practitioner in the GAIN Clinic at the Scarborough Health Network since 2011. Her current position includes co-Nurse Practitioner Regional Lead for the GAIN Regional Program which includes 12 Central East sites. She is an Adjunct Lecturer at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto.
• James Meloche ~ CEO – Community Care Durham - Having worked in Ontario’s Health System for nearly 20 years – from policy to practice to operations – James Moloche brings a unique perspective on the value of integrated primary health care.
• Jane McKinnon Wilson, BSc. Human Kinetics, MSc. Human Biology ~ Waterloo Wellington Geriatric Systems Coordinator & Waterloo Wellington Older Adult Strategy Lead – Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington - Jane McKinnon Wilson has had the opportunity to provide clinical service and leadership in partnership with older adults across the continuum of care including:  Adult Day Programs, Acute Care, Palliative Care, Rehabilitation, Chronic Care, Retirement Living, Long Term Care, Mental Health Services and Geriatric Medicine Services.
• Jennifer McDonnell ~Supervisor – Adult Day Program – Conant Branch Oshawa Seniors Community Centres - Jennifer McDonnell is a Recreation and Leisure graduate who has been working at the Oshawa Senior Community Centres for the past 25 years.  She is the Supervisor of the Conant Branch Adult Day Program. 
• Jenny Siemon ~ Director, Regional Geriatric Program – Central Regional Geriatric Program  - Jenny Siemon is an Occupational Therapist and the Director of the Regional Geriatric Program central. She has experience working in General Internal Medicine, and also with the Behavioural Supports Ontario Strategy. Jenny is an Assistant Clinical Professor (Adjunct) with the School of Rehabilitation Science at McMaster University, and has an interest in building health care providers’ capacity to provide effective, client-centered care to older adults. 
• Kaitlin Loudon ~ Project Manager – Behavioural Supports Ontario Home & Community Care Support Services Central East - With a Bachelor of Health Sciences and a Master’s of Health Studies, Kaitlin brings an extensive amount of experience in collaborative health care across many community based portfolios. Kaitlin recently celebrated 10 years of employment with Home and Community Care Support Services, having held many titles and supported many portfolios, such as Palliative Care, Medical Assistance in Dying, and Indigenous Health.
• Karen Hicks ~ Advanced Practice – Peterborough Regional Health Centre - Karen Hicks is an Advanced Practice Nurse at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre where she works as the Geriatric Emergency Management Nurse in the Emergency Department (ED). Karen developed a Geriatric Fellowship that supports ED Registered Nurses in better understanding the care and assessment of older adults. Pre-pandemic, Karen implemented a Geriatric Emergency Department Intervention (GEDI) team that improved outcomes for older adults in the ED.
• Kelly Davies ~ Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant Lanark, Leeds & Grenville, Seniors Mental Health Behavioural Support Services, Providence Care - Kelly has over 22 years of nursing related experience in a variety of different health care settings. Kelly first began her journey as a health care aid before becoming an RPN and then later achieving her RN designation.
• Kelly Kay ~ Executive Director – Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario - Kelly Kay is an experienced health leader, with more than 30 years of health system experience. She is currently the Executive Director of Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario, an entity funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health focused on providing province-wide system infrastructure for clinical geriatric services.
• Kelly McIntyre Muddle ~ Coordinator, South West Frail Senior Strategy – Specialized Geriatric Services, St. Joseph’s Health Care London - With a clinical background in Geriatric rehabilitation, as a registered Occupational Therapist, Kelly has led a number of regional and provincial initiatives related to the care of older adults including the South West Assess and Restore project which won the South West LHIN large project Quality Award in 2018.
• Kim Schryburt-Brown MSc, BScOT, OT Reg. (Ont.), ~ Clinical Resource Project, Consultant Seniors Mental Health Behavioural Support Services, Providence Care Community - Kim is an occupational therapist and has worked in Seniors Mental Health since 2004. She worked as a front line OT until 2017 when she moved into the Clinical Resource Project Consultant position with Seniors Mental Health Behavioural Support Services (SMHBSS) at Providence Care.
• Krista Dineley ~ Nurse Practitioner – Lakeridge Health – Oshawa site – GAIN Clinic - Krista Dineley is a Nurse Practitioner in the GAIN Clinic at Lakeridge Health Oshawa since 2018 and prior practiced at the GAIN Clinic at Peterborough Regional Health Centre as well as in primary care.
• Lindy Kilik, Ph.D., C.Psych ~ Neuropsychologist, Seniors Mental Health (SMH) Program, Providence Care Hospital (PCH) and Queens University - Dr. Lindy Kilik is a Neuropsychologist who has practiced in the areas of Geriatrics and Acquired Brain Injury for over 20 years and holds academic cross-appointments in the Departments of Psychology & Psychiatry at Queen’s University.
• Margaret Camp ~ Recreation Therapist, Brain Injury Association Peterborough Region (BIAPR) - Coming from a background in education as a teacher, Margaret returned to school in 2017 as a mature student to complete the Therapeutic Recreation certificate program at Fleming College.
• Mathieu Grenier ~ Deputy Chief of Quality Improvement and Professional Standards – County of Renfrew Paramedic Service - Mathieu Grenier is Deputy Chief of Quality Improvement and Professional Standards for the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service since January 2017. He has been working as a paramedic for the past 19 years in the County.
• Melanie Briscoe ~ Clinical Manager North East Specialized Geriatric Centre, Health Sciences North -  Melanie Briscoe is the Clinical Manager for the Regional Geriatric Medicine Services, North East Specialized Geriatric Centre, Health Sciences North.  She has a Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Queens University.  Melanie develops, implements and supports Geriatric Medicine Services across the North East.  
• Nancy Lesiuk RN BScN ~ Regional Lead & Manager Geriatric Outreach – Behavioral Supports Ontario – Champlain - Nancy Lesiuk is the Regional Lead Behavioral Supports Ontario, Champlain, and Manager Geriatric Outreach.  She is a dedicated professional providing strong leadership in nursing, project management, and educational roles.  She has been successful in the development and implementation of Behavioral Support as well as the sustainability to further establish engagement and ownership of the BSO program in LTCH in the Champlain LHIN.
• Natasha Poushinsky ~ Project Manager, Champlain Dementia Network - Natasha Poushinsky has been the Project Manager with the Champlain Dementia Network for the last six years.
• Pam Howell ~ Pharmacist – GeriMedRisk & Bruyère Continuing Care, Ottawa - Pam Howell is a pharmacist working for almost 20 years with older clients and clients with complex chronic conditions at Bruyère Continuing Care, Ottawa. From 2018 to 2020, her role with the Bruyère Deprescribing Guidelines team has focused on knowledge mobilization, community engagement and research efforts to highlight the role of deprescribing as part of good prescribing.
• Rhonda Schwartz ~ Executive Director – Seniors Care Network - As the Executive Director of the Seniors Care Network, a coordinating entity for all specialized geriatric services (SGS) in Central East Ontario, Rhonda provides leadership and oversight for the strategy, planning, design, implementation, evaluation and ongoing quality improvement of regional clinical SGS. 
• Ronaye Gilsenan, MA – Program Evaluator, Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario - Ronaye Gilsenan is the Program Evaluator for the Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario and is Co-Chair of the Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario’s Evaluation, Quality Improvement and Performance Measurement Committee.
• Sabeen Ehsan ~ Director of Quality & Planning – Seniors Care Network - Sabeen Ehsan is an internationally trained Medical Doctor with an Executive Master’s in Health Informatics from IHPME, University of Toronto. She has extensive experience in spearheading large-scale health quality and patient safety initiatives in various healthcare settings. Applying a lens of strategic thinking, Sabeen has led, co-led, and contributed to the design and evaluation of innovative solutions focused on the complex needs of older adults in Central East Ontario.
• Sandra Easson-Bruno ~ Director, North Simcoe Muskoka, Specialized Geriatric Services Program, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care - Sandra Easson-Bruno joined the North Simcoe Muskoka Specialized Geriatric Services (NSM SGS) Program as its inaugural Director in 2016. She has a Master of Nursing degree from the University of Toronto and holds certification in gerontological nursing from the Canadian Nurses Association.
• Shirley Chien-Chieh Huang ~ Medical Director – Geriatric Medicine Clinics - Dr. Huang earned her Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 2007. She completed her Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine training at UBC, followed by Master of Science in Healthcare Quality at Queen’s University.
• Stacey A. Hawkins ~ Director – Research & Evaluation, Seniors Care Network; Administrative Lead, Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) Program (Central East); Adjunct Professor and PhD Student, Ontario Tech University; Interdisciplinary Fellow, Canadian Frailty Network - Stacey Hawkins is the Director of Research and Evaluation for Seniors Care Network. She is the Program Lead for the Central East Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) Nurse Program, an Adjunct Professor and part-time PhD student (Health Sciences) at Ontario Tech University, and an Interdisciplinary Fellow with the Canadian Frailty Network.
• Taryn MacKenzie ~ Advanced Practice Nurse – Geriatric Medicine Clinics/Community Geriatrics – The Ottawa Hospital/Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario - Taryn has worked at The Ottawa Hospital for over 30 years in positions including Nurse Educator in the Emergency Department and a 2-year secondment as Pandemic Planning Coordinator after SARS. 
• Teryl Hoefel ~ Executive Director, Brain Injury Association Peterborough Region (BIAPR) - Teryl brings both personal family experience of acquired brain injury (ABI) and years of working with both seniors and those living with ABI to her role as the ED of BIAPR.

Supporting Older Adults in Ontario Post-Covid: Recommendations for Transforming Care

These recommendations represent a summary of key messages from the October 2021 conference, hosted by Specialized Geriatric Services East, that brought together 48 expert speakers and more than 300 clinicians, policy makers, service providers, planners, researchers, older adults and care partners.

Background: Check out the recording and resources from the SGS East June 2021 webinar for more background on Special Geriatric Services and the Ontario East context.

Bookmark this page and check back throughout the summer for more information!

Hosted by: This conference is hosted by Specialized Geriatric Services East, a collaborative group of clinicians and administrators supporting older adults with complex health conditions (including frailty) across Ontario Health (East).

Specialized Geriatric Services (SGS) are those services focused on older adults living with complex health conditions including frailty, distinguished by greater specialization and the use of interprofessional teams and inter-organizational collaboration in service delivery.

This conference was hosted by Special Geriatric Services East, a collaborative
group of clinicians and administrators supporting older adults with complex
health conditions (including frailty) across Ontario Health (East).
Specialized Geriatric Services (SGS) are those services focused on older
adults living with complex health conditions including frailty, distinguished by
greater specialization and the use of interprofessional teams and interorganizational collaboration in service delivery.