Internship in Canada to Focus on New Approaches to Dementia Care
What can dementia care look like when it respects a person’s individuality, dignity, relationships, and need to live an ordinary and meaningful life for as long as possible? This will be one of the key questions explored during an international professional internship by Dr. Věra Suchomelová from the Faculty of Theology at the University of South Bohemia. The internship will take place in Canada from 23 September to 24 October 2026.
The host organisation is the Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes at the University of British Columbia. The Centre brings research and practice together and focuses, among other areas, on health services and outcomes research, long-term care, ageing, quality of life, and patient-centred care.
The main part of the internship will take place at Providence Living at The Views in Comox, British Columbia, Canada’s first public, non-profit long-term care village inspired by the concept of a “dementia village”. The facility provides care for seniors with and without dementia, as well as younger adults requiring long-term care.
Putting the Person at the Centre of Care
The “dementia village” concept is based on the idea that care environments for people living with dementia do not have to resemble traditional institutions. Instead, they can be designed to feel more like home and support everyday life.
Providence Living at The Views consists of 13 smaller households, each accommodating up to 12 residents. Each household includes its own kitchen, dining and living areas, supporting everyday activities and shared routines. Residents can also maintain flexible daily routines according to their individual needs and participate in activities such as meal preparation. The environment is designed to promote independence, a sense of belonging, and meaningful daily activities.
The care model at The Views moves beyond traditional task-based care towards a social and relational approach that takes into account the needs, wishes, and preferences of individual residents and their families.
From Canadian Experience to Practice in the Czech Republic
The internship will also include professional meetings with researchers from the University of British Columbia and opportunities to learn about other models of long-term and community-based care.
“The aim is to gain first-hand experience with innovative, person- and relationship-centred approaches to dementia care and to explore how these principles can contribute to education and professional discussions about the development of care in the Czech Republic,” says Dr. Věra Suchomelová.
The experience gained in Canada will subsequently be used in education and professional activities related to dementia care. An important focus will be on exploring ways to support care in the Czech Republic that addresses not only people’s health needs, but also their individuality, relationships, established routines, and need for a meaningful life.
Internship Supported by the Alzheimer Foundation Fund
The internship is supported by the Alzheimer Foundation Fund (Alzheimer nadační fond) with a grant of CZK 25,000.
The support provides an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of innovative approaches to long-term care that can contribute to professional discussion and to the further development of care for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia in the Czech Republic.
Host organisation: Centre for Advancing Health Outcomes, University of British Columbia
Main internship location: Providence Living at The Views, Comox, British Columbia, Canada
Internship dates: 23 September – 24 October 2026
Support: Alzheimer Foundation Fund, CZK 25,000
