Dr. Iaboni’s project is one of 40 initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for older adults, people living with dementia, and caregivers
KITE scientist Dr. Andrea Iaboni has received funding from The Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) at Baycrest to support a project that seeks to develop guidelines and an evaluation framework for bathroom design in residential dementia care settings.
Funding will flow through CABHI’s Spark Program, which supports the development of grassroots innovations by frontline healthcare workers and researchers to solve real-world care challenges.
Dr. Iaboni will receive $46,000 in funding to create guidelines for the design and evaluation of bathroom renovations on the Specialized Dementia Unit at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (TRI-SDU). It will also be shared with organizations that design long-term care homes.
“I’m thrilled to receive funding from CABHI for this project,” said Dr. Iaboni, who is the Medical Lead of the Specialized Dementia Unit at Toronto Rehab and an Associate Professor with the University of Toronto’s Department of Psychiatry.
"Bathing spaces for people with dementia need to be designed so that that they can be supported to bathe safely and in a way that minimizes anxiety and protects their dignity,” she said.
Dr. Iaboni’s project is one of 40 initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for older adults, people living with dementia, and caregivers financially supported by the Spark Program.
CABHI is financially supported by the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Public Health Agency of Canada.
"Through this latest cohort of CABHI's Spark program, there will be better support for caregivers, more support to help older adults age at home, improved care coordination and navigation, and healthier cognitive and mental health,” said the federal Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos.
“These projects continue the implementation of Canada's national dementia strategy to help improve the lives of so many Canadians.”
CABHI is a solution accelerator focused on driving innovation in the aging and brain health sector. It is powered by Baycrest, a global leader in aging and brain health and home to the Rotman Research Institute, one of the world’s top research institutes in cognitive neuroscience.