How Baycrest is Future-Proofing Dementia Care in Canada
Canada is currently undergoing a significant demographic shift, with individuals over 65 outnumbering those under 15 for the first time in history. By 2036, it is projected that one in four Canadians will be a senior, placing an immense strain on a healthcare system originally designed for acute, hospital-based care rather than the management of chronic, lifelong conditions like dementia.
With over 48,000 Ontarians currently waiting for long-term care and nearly 6.3 million Canadians expected to be impacted by dementia by 2050, the need for a scalable, home-based alternative cannot wait. Below you can explore two innovative ways Baycrest is stepping up to adress this growing need.
Canadian Caregiver Assessment and Resource Tool (C-CART)
Baycrest has launched the Canadian Caregiver Assessment and Resource Tool (C-CART), a free, online tool available 24/7 across Canada to support caregivers. Designed to address growing challenges such as isolation, burnout, and financial stress—gaps not fully met by the healthcare system—C-CART provides caregivers with easy access to relevant resources, services, education, and guidance regardless of location.
At a time when one in four Canadians identifies as a caregiver, C-CART offers personalized, evidence-based recommendations tailored to each user’s circumstances, including culture, age, life stage, and access barriers. After completing a brief questionnaire (typically under 15 minutes), users receive localized information on health services, financial supports, community programs, translation services, and more.
Baycrest@Home
Baycrest@Home serves as a comprehensive virtual digital health hub that brings Baycrest’s world-renowned geriatric expertise directly into the community to enable “aging in place”. By organizing services under the strategic themes of
Safe@Home: Utilizes smart-home enhancements to increase the safety and independence of older adults while strengthening their connection with caregivers
Help@Home: Provides caregivers with practical services and information to help them coordinate care and navigate the emotional stress of caregiving
Health@Home: offers a blend of virtual and face-to-face clinical services through partnerships with health providers to improve the quality of life for both older adults and their caregivers
The platform closes critical care gaps through high-impact pillars like Virtual Behavioural Medicine, which has successfully kept 92% of high-risk patients out of the hospital. Through the innovative use of AI-driven personalization and Remote Patient Monitoring, Baycrest@Home is transforming a fragmented system into a proactive, scalable movement that ensures older adults can age with the dignity, safety, and independence they deserve.
