b"NEW MODELS OF CAREThey sought help from The 519, Knowlton and the discussion about a City of Toronto agency thatCrosswater Digital Media playing the advocates for the LGBTQ2Srole of tech partner in Primacares community. It provided the mandatoryapplication for 2018 research funding. training for staff and volunteerAfter an initial connection with a VR sessions for resident and familycompany didnt work out, CABHI councils. Knowlton says the residentsent Primacare three more options. councils embraced the sessions.Knowlton and her team spent an Were all living here, together, so letsafternoon interviewing each of those make everyone feel welcome. Onepotential matches. Crosswater was resident, Knowlton says, identified asone of them. a woman, wearing feminine clothes, but when she was sick and couldntKruse, Crosswaters new medical put on her wig, she looked like acontent director, drove with Armin man. With The 519 training, Knowltonand Adamo to London, Ontario, for says staff always approached her as athe interview with Knowlton and her female, no matter how she appeared.team. It turned out to be a meeting of the like-minded. The group discussed With Melchior, Knowlton researchedthe possibilities that virtual reality, ways to improve the lives of peoplecombined with Adamos instrumental in their homes, choosing the Butterflycompositions and Crosswaters spatial program because of the way it helpedcourt at their table for four hours,audio sounds, could take people shift the culture from a medicalizedcelebrating Adamos 75th birthday,with moderate to severe dementia model to one that allowed individualsdiscussing life, aging, technology andto a peaceful place, tapping into to live with freedom, to follow theirthe virtual reality experience of Armin'smemories, creating a relaxation that interests. They looked at technologymother, Genevieve St. George.pharmaceuticals, with nasty side for people with dementia, examiningeffects, could never match. the possibility that it would helpA few nights later, Kruse waited people stay calmer, happier and avoidon a couple from Toronto, andKnowlton focused on the potential the problematic antipsychotics thatafter learning of their professionaloutcomes of their proposed study. many use to keep people quiet. Or theconnection to CABHI, she mentionedWould it help residents relax, rather physical restraints, to keep them still.the owners of a local company whothan grow angry, depressed or were interested in virtual reality withaggressive? Could it lessen the use Knowlton approached the Centrespatial sound in research for theof antipsychotic medication given to for Aging + Brain Health Innovationelderly. She described Armins storypeople with dementia? Would it help associated with Baycrest in Toronto.about his mom and her happinesspeople calm down at the end of the She was interested in participatingafter visiting the virtual forest. Theday, enabling a deeper sleep? Could in its research projects, part of itsnext time Armin and Adamo returnedit lead to greater contentment? Make Industry Innovation Partnershipfor dinner, it quickly became clearlife easier for workers? Or create a fun, Program. CABHI, as it is calledthat Kruse shared a mutual interest inhappier experience, enticing families (pronounced cabee), describesmedical education. She was in schoolto visit more often? its program as an opportunity forstudying to become a physicians companies around the world toassistant. Armin called it serendipity.Knowlton didnt commit, not that accelerate their disruptive senior careArmin and Adamo offered Kruse a job.day, although it felt as though the innovations by testing them in a real- It worked out well.meeting would end with a swipe to world opportunity.the right, as the kids say, a match and Adamo was a friend of Arminsan agreement to work together on Trial sites are found across Northmom; sometimes they wrote poetryPrimacares application.LTCTAmerica, in long-term care homes,together. The two men became community care, hospitals, memorybusiness partners in the late 1970s,This article is an excerpt from Happily clinics and day programs. Beforeinvolved in arts, music, advertisingEver Older: Revolutionary Approaches applying, CABHI connects the industryjingles, marketing or the creation ofto Long-Term Care by Moira Welsh. players with tech companies to see iffine food, as restaurateurs. But theseMoira Welsh. Published by ECW they can make a match. Like dating,days they focus on Crosswater, theirPress Ltd.www.ecwpress.comKnowlton says.company that produces virtual reality, including teaching videos for many Around the same time that Knowltonof the University of Buffalos medical reached out to CABHI, Tara Kruse wasinstructors. at work as a server in a downtownMoira Welsh is an award-winning Buffalo restaurant. Armin St. GeorgeIt was Kruses fortuitous restaurantinvestigative reporter with the and his business partner, John Adamo,meeting with the CABHI people thatToronto Star. arrived on a March evening, holdingultimately led to the meeting with www.oltca.com LONG TERM CARE TODAY 13"