Terms of Reference - Steering Committee

Purpose
The purpose of the Dementia Network is to facilitate the collaboration of available people and resources locally to improve the system of care for persons with dementia, their families and caregivers throughout the Algoma District, and in the process establish formal linkages with other regional Dementia Networks.

Goals

To develop a more coordinated system of assessment and treatment services
To address gaps and issues in service provision
To develop more coordinated approach to dementia education and training for clients, caregivers, care providers, and physicians
To explore possible roles in the areas of research and advocacy

The Steering Committee will seek to achieve these goals by establishing working groups in the areas of:

Service delivery
Education and research
Other areas as identified.

The Steering Committee will provide ongoing support and leadership to the working groups developed as part of the Dementia Network.

Membership
The Dementia Network Steering Committee will seek representation from the following sectors:

Algoma Community Care Access Centre
Long Term Care Facilities
Retirement Homes
Adult Day Programs
Group Health Centre Geriatric Assessment Program
Seniors' Mental Health programs (Sault Ste. Marie and Elliot Lake)
Alzheimer Society
Supportive Housing programs
Physicians
Psychogeriatric Resource Consultant (PRC)
Community Agencies (e.g. nursing and homemaking agencies, Meals on Wheels)
Caregivers (community and facility perspectives, urban and rural perspectives)
Hospitals
Algoma, Cochrane, Manitoulin, Sudbury District Health Council (ex officio)
John Roinonen, Ministry of Health and Long Term Care - Alzheimer lead for Northern Ontario (resource)

Working groups (Service delivery, education, etc.) may call upon the expertise of individuals in sectors other than those listed above.
A maximum of 18 members will form the Steering Committee.

Meeting Frequency
Meetings will be quarterly at minimum, with additional meetings as necessary.

Chair
A designated chair (or chair and co-chair) will be identified through consensus of the members at the first meeting. The term of office for the chair will be 2 years.

Meeting Format
The Steering Committee is an advisory group rather than a decision-making body. As such, formal motions and voting procedures will be waived. Every effort will be made to reach any required decisions by consensus. In the event that consensus cannot be reached, the group members may resort to a vote.

A meeting agenda will be circulated prior to the meeting.

A secretary will be designated to record meeting proceedings. Following the meeting, meeting summaries will be developed and distributed to all members by email where possible. Surface mail will be used for members who do not have email capability.

Administrative Support
The Alzheimer Society of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District will provide administrative support to the Steering Committee (e.g. preparing and distributing meeting summaries) until such time as the Committee chooses otherwise or the Alzheimer Society no longer has the resources to do so.