Implementation of Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO): An Evaluation of Three Models of Care

Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) was launched to enhance the healthcare services for Ontario's seniors, their caregivers and families living and coping with responsive behaviours associated with dementia and other neurological conditions. The implementation of the program varied across and within the local health integration networks (LHINs). By 2015, there were three BSO models operating within the long-term care (LTC) home sector: in-home BSO teams, a mobile team that serves multiple LTC homes within a sub-area of a LHIN and a LHIN-wide mobile team that provides services to all homes. A survey was undertaken to identify the differences among the BSO models of care in relation to care planning, collaboration and team building and home-level resident outcomes. We found that three years after implementation, LTC staff reported that the in-home BSO model out-performs the mobile team across all key measures. There is a role for mobile teams to provide expertise and sharing of best practices across the regions, but future policy and funding should focus on supporting the development of in-home BSO teams.