TORONTO — The Ontario government is rolling out a new dementia care program in long-term care homes and expanding specialized behavioural units as part of a multi-million-dollar effort to improve care for some of the province’s most vulnerable residents.
The province announced Tuesday it will invest $9 million over three years in its Improving Dementia Care Program (IDCP), which has selected its first 17 participating long-term care homes. The initiative aims to introduce emotion-based care models and provide staff with specialized training to better support residents living with dementia.
“Our government is investing in dementia care and supports to improve the well-being of long-term care residents, their caregivers and families,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “These innovative programs and specialized units will support people living with dementia and their loved ones, while improving the work experience of staff.”
Launched in September 2025, the program will gradually expand, with the government planning to fund nearly 50 long-term care homes by the 2027-28 fiscal year. Participating homes were selected based on criteria assessed by Ontario Health, including demonstrated need and readiness to implement the program.
The announcement comes as dementia continues to place growing pressure on Ontario’s long-term care system. More than 60 per cent of residents in long-term care homes have a dementia diagnosis, and the number of Ontarians living with dementia is projected to triple by 2050.
In addition to the new program, Ontario is allocating $3.35 million in 2025-26 and $9.82 million annually starting in 2026-27 to create up to 153 new behavioural specialized unit (BSU) beds across five long-term care homes.
These units are designed to provide person-centred care by trained staff who tailor treatment and support to each resident’s physical, emotional and cultural needs. The province says expanding these units will help reduce hospitalizations by allowing residents to receive specialized care within long-term care homes, freeing up hospital capacity.
The BSU expansion builds on a previously announced three-year, $46-million commitment in the 2024 provincial budget to add 210 such beds. With the latest investment, the government expects to exceed that target, creating up to 218 beds.
Sector organizations and long-term care providers welcomed the funding, saying it reflects growing recognition of the importance of emotional and personalized care.
“We applaud the government’s investment through the Improving Dementia Care Program to enhance the quality of care and well-being of long-term care residents. The Alzheimer Society of Ontario shares the government’s recognition that provider training is essential to delivering the care people living with dementia deserve. That’s why we offer U-First!, an emotion-based care program that equips staff with concrete skills to work with people living with dementia and their care partners to address individual needs. We congratulate the 17 homes selected for this first round of funding and look forward to working with them to improve person-centred dementia care,” said Cathy Barrick, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.
Industry advocates say the focus on emotion-based care reflects evolving best practices.
“This is incredible news. We’re very pleased to see the government working with the sector to move emotion-focused care forward. Good care for older adults isn’t just about medical needs, it’s also about how people feel. Emotional support and meaningful connection, guided by each individual, make a real difference in day-to-day life. We’re proud that our association’s advocacy helped pave the way for this important investment,” said Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario.
Long-term care operators also pointed to the growing demand for specialized dementia supports.
“We are grateful to the government for this important investment in dementia care. With more than 60 per cent of residents in Ontario’s long-term care homes living with a dementia diagnosis, and the number of Ontarians with dementia expected to triple by 2050, the need has never been clearer. This funding strengthens our ability to deliver more focused, personalized, emotion-focused supports, and this is what our homes do best: person-centred care. By building on that foundation, we are enhancing dignity, connection and quality of life for residents and families across Ontario,” said Donna Duncan, CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association.
Individual care providers say the funding will help deepen existing care approaches.
“The Improving Dementia Care Program represents an important step forward in how we support residents living with dementia. At Meighen Health Centre, we believe care must be guided by compassion, innovation and evidence-based practice. This investment enables us to deepen our emotion-based care approach and continue building meaningful connections between residents, families and staff,” said Monica Klein-Nouri, Executive Director of Meighen Health Centre.
The dementia care investments are part of Ontario’s broader plan to modernize long-term care, which includes building 58,000 new and upgraded beds and offering incentives to attract more personal support workers.
The government says its long-term care strategy focuses on improving staffing and care quality, strengthening oversight, modernizing facilities and improving access to services, as the province prepares for rising demand driven by an aging population.