Mental Health in Long-Term Care – Health Care Professionals
Clinical Guidelines
Discover the guidelines on mental health in long-term care for older adults.
For Older Adults and Care Partners
Explore ways to support mental health and well-being for yourself and loved ones.
Providing care for residents in community care homes is not always easy. While it comes with its set of challenges such as staffing levels, aging infrastructure, and timely assessments, these obstacles can be seen as opportunities for positive change and development.
Efforts to enhance staff training in recognizing and managing mental illness and challenging behaviors, along with increased access to mental health consultants, can pave the way for improved care delivery, especially in rural and remote areas. This journey toward better mental health support is filled with potential for positive transformation in the lives of those you serve in long-term care, their family members and care partners.
Discover Our Resources
Canadian Guidelines for Assessing and Managing Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD)
Caring for residents and their mental health is often challenging. CCSMH has developed best practice guidelines on the assessment and management of behaviours in dementia to support health care professionals when working with older adults in community care facilities.
Clinician’s Pocket Card
Discover the clinician's pocket card on the Assessment and Treatment of Behavioural Symptoms of Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care Facilities.
Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being in Community Residential Care Settings (Canadian Standards Association Report, 2021)
Developed in collaboration with the Canadian Standards Association, the report summarizes national and international best practices and guidance for the planning, development, and implementation of services, programs, education and training, policies, and procedures on how to support the mental health and well-being of residents in community residential settings.
Read the position statement on Mental Health in Long-Term Care
This position paper was written in partnership with the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry and highlights the mental health care needs of older people living in long-term care (LTC) settings during COVID-19 and other viral outbreaks. The position statements in this document provide actionable strategies and priorities to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of residents of LTC. Collectively, we can learn from our actions in the past and make plans for a future that better meets the mental health needs of individuals living in LTC.
Discover the National ECHO Program Webinars
Mental Health in Long-Term Care (2024). Presented by Dr. Julia Kirkham, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Assistant Professors, University of Calgary.
Consent and Capacity Issues (2024). Presented by Dr. Carole A. Cohen, MD, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.