(Photo provided by Grey County)
The Ontario government has announced new investments to strengthen dementia care in long-term care homes across the province — including one in Grey-Bruce.
Long-Term Care Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta revealed the first 17 homes selected for the Improving Dementia Care Program (IDCP), supported by $9 million over three years. Nearly 50 homes are expected to participate by 2027–28.
Among them is Lee Manor in Owen Sound. The home will implement an emotion-based model of care known as “Colour It Your Way,” developed in Grey County.
Emotion-based models of care aim to enhance the well-being of residents living with dementia by prioritizing their interests and lived experiences, fostering meaningful relationships, and emphasizing dignity and respect. The “Colour It Your Way” approach is resident-centered and empowers staff to provide compassionate, personalized care tailored to individual needs.
In addition to the IDCP funding, Ontario is investing $3.35 million in 2025–26 and $9.82 million annually starting in 2026–27 to add up to 153 behavioural specialized unit beds in five long-term care homes. These specialized units provide person-centered care delivered by trained staff and are designed to help residents receive appropriate care in long-term care homes rather than hospitals.
More than 60 per cent of Ontario’s long-term care residents have a dementia diagnosis, and that number is expected to grow significantly in the coming decades.
The government says the funding is part of its broader plan to strengthen staffing and care, improve quality and enforcement, build modern homes, and connect seniors to faster access to services.