About Project ECHO Care for the Elderly 

Project ECHO (Extension of Community Health Outcomes) Care of the Elderly launched  on October 30, 2017 with the vision to enhance the quality of care to older adults in Ontario, by improving the knowledge and skills of primary care providers in meeting the healthcare needs of older adults.

ECHO Care of the Elderly aims to  connect primary care providers and healthcare professionals to an interprofessional team of geriatric specialists through weekly videoconferencing sessions.

Registration for all of the upcoming ECHO Care of the Elderly (COE) series in 2025-2026 fiscal year are now open. Click here to apply. The session topics and date/time for each series is provided below. Please see “Apply to ECHO COE” for further information.

Curriculum for the ECHO COE Series:

ECHO Clinic Sessions will consist of didactic presentations on topics, such as:

Essential Geriatrics I: Tuesday’s, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., April 1 – May 6, 2025

  1. Dementia: Screening, Assessment and Diagnosis
  2. Responsive Behaviors in Dementia
  3. Consent & Capacity
  4. Delirium
  5. Advance Care Planning & Goals of Care
  6. Depression

Essential Geriatrics II: Tuesday’s, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., May 13 – June 24, 2025

  1. Pain
  2. Continence
  3. Nutrition
  4. Sleep
  5. Falls & Bone Health
  6. Frailty
  7. Polypharmacy

Essential Geriatrics III: TBD

Long-Term Care: TBD

Dementia: TBD

*For list of topics already covered, please view Didactic Curriculum page(s).

 Vision, Mission and Scope

The objectives of ECHO Care of the Elderly include:

  • To equip primary care providers to provide more comprehensive care for their frail complex aging patients
  • To utilize existing telehealth and tele-education services at Baycrest to facilitate geriatrics training to primary care providers across Ontario, particularly in remote, underserved areas
  • To meet the demand for care of Ontario’s aging population by expanding the reach of Baycrest’s expertise in care of the elderly

 How ECHO Works

  • Register for ECHO.
  • Prior to the session:
    – Participants will receive an e-agenda the day before the session, with resources and a  link to the session.
    – Participants ensure they have the equipment required to participate (stable internet connection, computer, webcam & microphone or iOS phone with phone connection).
  • During the session:
    – Sessions have 2 parts: 1. A short didactic presentation given by a subject specialist and 2. De-identified patient cases presented by participants.
  • After the session:
    – Participants complete a weekly feedback survey.