William Osler Health System: The Butterfly Approach to dementia care

In 2023, William Osler Health System (Osler’s) Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) Unit at Brampton Civic Hospital officially became the first acute care hospital worldwide to implement the Butterfly Approach to dementia care – a ground-breaking paradigm that delivers focused care, connects with people in a dignified, human way – and recognizes that the patient's emotional needs are as important as their physical needs. Until 2023, the Butterfly Approach had only been adopted in long-term care homes. Dr. Nadkarni will share Osler’s journey towards implementing the Butterfly Approach – a significant effort that involved not only a change to the model of care at Osler but also involved modifications to the physical space on the ACE Unit at Brampton Civic, ensuring the environment is safe, engaging and accessible to people living with dementia.

Presenter: Shailesh K. Nadkarni
Shailesh K. Nadkarni currently serves as the Clinical Program Director, Seniors Health, Rehabilitation, Complex Continuing Care and Transitional Care, at Osler. He is trained as a family physician and has a Masters degree in Health Services Administration from Dalhousie University. Dr. Nadkarni's career is marked by contributions to novel healthcare initiatives, which includes supporting the Butterfly Model of Care. This model for dementia care emphasizes compassionate, patient-centered care and sees emotional wellbeing as important as physical health. Dr. Nadkarni's leadership has been instrumental in driving quality improvement initiatives and he is the recipient of numerous awards, including most recently the Canadian College of Health Leaders’ 2025 Excellence in Patient Safety Award.

This webinar is co-hosted with CARP Ottawa.