Toronto is looking to transform its city-run nursing homes by implementing a new long-term-care model that is catching on in Southern Ontario. The project, called the Butterfly program, is taking over in the Peel Region. The program is now in all five of its municipal homes. Peel’s experiment with the British-based Butterfly program was a first in Ontario. The Butterfly Household Model of Care is meant to improve quality of life for people living with dementia by encouraging staff to learn about the people in their care and meet their needs for affection, activity and meaningful occupation. Data showed staff sick days dropped dramatically in Peel, saving one unit around $50,000 a year. There were also declines in resident antipsychotic drug use, falls and depression, all of which save money in the overall healthcare system.
Expérience des soins