About Project ECHO Care for the Elderly 

Project ECHO (Extension of Community Health Outcomes) Care of the Elderly was established in 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. Between Spring 2018 and Winter 2026, ECHO Care of the Elderly has successfully delivered 320 videoconferencing sessions, fostering connection and supporting collaborative learning.

Registration for all of the upcoming ECHO Care of the Elderly (COE) series in 2026-2027 fiscal year is open. Please 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: Tuesdays 11:00 am-12:30 pm EST, April 7-May 12, 2026

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

Essential Geriatrics II: Wednesdays 3:00-4:30 pm EST, May 13-June 24, 2026

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

Essential Geriatrics III: Wednesdays 3:00-4:30 pm EST, September 9-October 14, 2026

  1. Parkinson’s Disease
  2. Trauma Informed Care
  3. Sexuality & Intimacy in the Community
  4. EDI on Truth & Reconciliation
  5. Cannabis Use in the Older Adult
  6. Flex session (topic TBD)

Long-Term Care: Tuesdays 11:00 am-12:15 pm, October 13-December 15, 2026

  1. Responsive Behaviours: Strategies in LTC
  2. Acute Deterioration and Emergency Department Transfers
  3. Compassion Fatigue
  4. Engaging Families
  5. End of Life & Palliative Care
  6. Falls & Bone Health in LTC
  7. Sexuality, Intimacy & Dementia
  8. EDI session – Topic TBD
  9. Flex session 1 – Topic TBD
  10. Flex session 2- Topic TBD

Dementia: Wednesdays, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., January 6 – March 31, 2027

  1. Dementia: Screening, Assessment & Diagnosis
  2. Subtypes of Dementia
  3. Early-Onset Dementia
  4. 3Ds: Depression & Dementia
  5. 3Ds: Delirium & Dementia
  6. Responsive Behaviours in Dementia
  7. Driving & Dementia
  8. Psychosocial Care
  9. Pharmacological Approaches
  10. Dementia Prevent: Health Behaviour Change as First Line Medicine
  11. Caregiver Support
  12. Flex session – Topic TBD

*For a 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.