Baycrest

04/10/2026

Music Therapy - Is Music Medicine? Join us on Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 a.m., in person or virtually, for a discussion led by Justine Stehouwer RP MTA, Music Therapist at Baycrest.

📌 In person: Baycrest, Centre for Health Information, 3560 Bathurst St. (Apotex first floor).

📱 Virtual: Register on Zoom by visiting https://www.baycrest.org/centre-for-health-information/health-talks/

Everyone is welcome. Join us to learn about the effects of music on the brain and body, as well the many ways it can positively impact the health of older adults.

Why attend?
✅ Stay informed with current health topics

✅ Get practical insight from health professionals

✅ Connect with others focused on aging, caregiving and wellness

Register and learn more at https://www.baycrest.org/centre-for-health-information/health-talks/

Baycrest is a global leader in aging and brain health, delivering innovative care, research, and education to improve lives worldwide.

04/06/2026

During Chol Ha-Moed, the intermediate days of Passover, residents and patients enjoyed a special concert featuring Eli Green from Jewish Music Toronto and Joseph Landau of Yosl and the Yingels.

Music is an important part of life at Baycrest, enriching daily experiences and bringing vibrancy to our community. Through song and celebration, the concert captured the spirit of the holiday and created a meaningful moment of connection during this special time.

04/01/2026

Passover begins tonight, and Baycrest’s Heritage and Spiritual Care team will host 12 Seders for residents and patients across our campus over the next two evenings.

Passover is a time to retell the story of liberation and celebrate freedom, hope and community. These Seders bring residents and patients together to experience the warmth of tradition, the comfort of connection and the joy of sharing the holiday with others.

Chag Pesach Sameach to all who are celebrating. May this holiday be filled with meaning and cherished moments.

04/01/2026

We explore how to talk to children and young people about dementia in age-appropriate, stigma-reducing ways—supporting connection and well-being for both the person living with dementia and the entire family. Guest Angeleta Cox shares how she talked about her late mother’s young-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis with her young child and two teens. And Hannah Gardner, Consultant Admiral Nurse for Children and Young People at Dementia UK, speaks to improving support and awareness for children and young people living in families affected by dementia.

🎧 Tune in at defydementia.org, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

03/27/2026

Baycrest welcomed Michelle Cooper, Member of Provincial Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence and Parliamentary Assistant to the Ministry of Finance, this morning to present Dr. Morris Freedman with a scroll recognizing his appointment to the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest civilian honour.

Dr. Freedman was one of 30 individuals named to the Order of Ontario last month. He is Head of the Division of Neurology and a Senior Scientist at the Rotman Research Institute, and Medical Director of the Pamela and Paul Austin Centre for Neurology and Behavioural Support at Baycrest. His pioneering work in cognitive assessment and dementia research has helped shape the diagnosis and care of Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia in Ontario and around the world.

Dr. Freedman will formally receive the Order of Ontario medal at a provincial ceremony in June.

Congratulations to Dr. Freedman on this well-deserved honour.

03/23/2026

It’s Pharmacy Awareness Month, and today we’re recognizing Anne Kirstein, Clinical Pharmacist at Baycrest Hospital.

With nearly four decades of service as a pharmacist, Anne has worked across almost every corner of the organization, adapting to new practices, technologies and models of care. She also supports Baycrest’s Virtual Behavioural Medicine (VBM) Clinic. Throughout her career, she has focused on providing safe, effective and patient-centred medication management for older adults.

Anne says collaboration is what she enjoys most each day. Working closely with pharmacy colleagues, physicians, nurses and allied health professionals, she values the team-centred approach that ensures every patient receives thoughtful, well-coordinated care. Anne also plays a critical role in reviewing complex medication regimens to help ensure treatments provide the greatest benefit with the least risk.

Thank you, Anne, for your expertise, steady presence and commitment to supporting clients through personalized, evidence-informed pharmacy care.

🌎 Learn more about the VBM Program by visiting https://www.baycrest.org/all-clinics-services/behavioural-support-for-seniors-program/the-virtual-behavioural-medicine-vbm-program/

03/20/2026

It’s World Behaviour Analysis Day, and today we’re recognizing Krystal Street, M.A., R.B.A. (Ont.), BCBA, Behaviour Support Specialist on 4 West – Behavioural Neurology.

Krystal has played a key role in integrating Applied Behaviour Analysis into our specialized neurology setting, helping the team strengthen structured, non‑pharmacological, function‑based approaches for people living with dementia. Seeing improvements in safety, quality of life and staff confidence has been a defining highlight of her work.

What she enjoys most is collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to turn complex behaviours into clear, actionable strategies. "Each day presents a new clinical puzzle — whether it's supporting direct care staff, mentoring colleagues or developing systems that improve consistency of care."

Krystal’s impact is rooted in curiosity, compassion and objectivity. By identifying the “why” behind behaviours and designing proactive, data‑informed supports, she helps ensure safety, dignity and truly person‑centred care - a contribution valued by colleagues, clients and families across Baycrest.

🌎 Learn more about Baycrest by visiting https://www.baycrest.org/

03/18/2026

It’s Creative Arts Therapies Week, and today we’re celebrating Liisa Lamminen, Creative Arts Worker with Culture and Arts, whose work brings expression, connection and joy to patients and residents across Baycrest.

For Liisa, some of the most meaningful moments come from seeing a resident’s face light up after finishing a painting or discovering a new art technique. Whether in the studio, on the units or one‑on‑one in the hospital and Apotex, she creates welcoming spaces where residents can socialize, explore creativity and express themselves without judgment.

Liisa is dedicated to understanding each resident as an individual — their abilities, preferences and artistic styles. She adapts tools and materials, from foam‑grip brushes to tabletop magnifiers, to ensure everyone who wants to participate can do so with comfort and confidence.

Residents and families often share how calming, joyful and grounding their time in the studio feels. Thank you Liisa, those moments of pride, focus and connection are what make your work truly meaningful to all.

🌎 Learn more about Arts and Culture at Baycrest by visiting https://www.baycrest.org/arts-and-culture/

03/16/2026

🧠 It’s and Baycrest continues advancing discovery, learning and collaboration to shape the future of aging. Discover our expertise, resources and learn more by visiting baycrest.org.



ℹ️ https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/what-dementia/dementia-numbers-canada, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220427/dq220427a-eng.htm and https://agsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02806.x

03/13/2026

It’s Nutrition Month, and today we are celebrating Michelle Freilich, Registered Dietitian, who has supported patients and families at Baycrest for more than 27 years. Michelle works across palliative care, complex continuing care and rehabilitation, where she plays a key role in helping patients maintain dignity, comfort and strength through individualized nutrition care.

Michelle enjoys collaborating with interprofessional teams to improve patient outcomes and building strong therapeutic relationships with families and colleagues along the way.

Colleagues and community members value her clinical expertise, collaborative approach and ability to guide delicate conversations with empathy and clarity. “My goal is always to ensure that nutrition care is not only clinically sound, but also deeply person-centered.”

🌎 Learn more about Baycrest Hospital and Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged by visiting https://www.baycrest.org/all-entities/hospital-long-term-care/

03/12/2026

How much protein do older adults need? Join us Thursday, March 19 at 11:00 a.m., in person or virtually, for a discussion led by Clarissa Chu and Xielle Zhang, U of T MPH: Nutrition and Dietetic Students.

📍 In person: Baycrest, Centre for Health Information, 3560 Bathurst St (Apotex first floor)
🌐 Virtual: Register on Zoom by visiting baycrest.org/healthtalks

Everyone is welcome. We’ll learn about why protein is especially important for people as they age and discuss how protein supports muscle maintenance, recovery and overall health in older adults.

Why attend?
✔️ Stay informed with current health topics
✔️ Get practical insight from health professionals
✔️ Connect with others focused on aging, caregiving and wellness

Register and learn more at https://www.baycrest.org/centre-for-health-information/health-talks/

Baycrest is a global leader in aging and brain health, delivering innovative care, research, and education to improve lives worldwide.

03/11/2026

It’s Music Therapy Awareness Month, today we’re celebrating the impact of our music therapists, who use the power of music to spark connection, comfort and joy across Baycrest. Gloria Lipski, Certified Music Therapist, Culture and Arts, was part of the team that created and performed an original song for Baycrest’s 100th anniversary — a tribute to the heart, health and home that defines our community — a personal highlight of hers. But her most meaningful moments happen every day in the quiet, powerful ways music helps residents reconnect with their sense of self.

“How wonderful it is to get to use music in my work — I love to sing!”

Music therapists collaborate closely with their Culture and Arts colleagues, united by a shared purpose: engaging residents and patients through the arts in ways that feel personal and meaningful.

Music therapy offers something unique. When communication changes or becomes difficult, music can still reach people — opening space for trust, autonomy and authentic expression.

🌎 Learn more about Arts and Culture at Baycrest by visiting https://www.baycrest.org/arts-and-culture/