What are Behavioural Support Transition Units? 

Behavioural Support Units (BSUs) are specialized units within long-term care homes that provide care for individuals living with dementia or complex mental health conditions whose behavioural health needs exceed what can be supported in their current setting. Rooted in emotion-based and person-centred care, BSUs operate with enhanced staffing ratios, multidisciplinary expertise, and in close partnership with Behavioural Supports Ontario and other specialty services. Access to care in a BSTU is managed by Ontario Health @Home.
 
In response to the growing presence of the BSO population in Ontario’s BSTUs, the BSTU Collaborative launched in 2015, supported by the BSO Provincial Coordinating Office and brainXchange. The purpose of this collaborative is to bring together health care professionals, leaders and individuals with lived experience in order to promote person and family-centred best practices related to BSTUs. Products created by the BSTU Collaborative are listed below.

To learn more and/or join the BSTU Collaborative, please contact the Knowledge Broker.

Resources

The Critical Elements

Providing Person & Family Centred Care within Behavioural Support Transition Units (BSTU): The Critical Elements

This report is intended to be a resource for professional care providers across the spectrum of care that support individuals and families in the transitions of moving into and moving out of a BSTU.

Environmental Scan

Environmental Scan of Ontario's Behavioural Support Transition Units (BSTUs)

The BSTU Collaborative designed and facilitated an environmental scan of BSTUs in Ontario to establish an overall understanding and serve as a snapshot of existing BSTUs at a specific moment in time.