"Nurse Practitioners are well positioned to help residents and families navigate their life limiting illness. We have the knowledge and skillset to provide their primary medical care, their maintenance therapies, and the treatment of chronic illness flareups. I think the value add is that we can also integrate this approach and philosophy throughout the continuum of care."Nurse Practitioners play a significant role in long-term care, but many homes do not have one on the team. We spoke with Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Burgess about the role and how NPs can support other team members by modelling conversations, and how they are  part of a holistic effort to integrate a palliative approach in long-term care.Jennifer Burgess is a primary healthcare nurse practitioner who has been caring for older adults and within the long-term care sector for 20 years. She has been a direct care provider as a charge nurse and educator, a collaborator with community partners, and is now a nurse practitioner. For the past 10 years, she has been fortunate to have many wonderful mentors in palliative care that initially sparked her interest in helping those who are approaching end of life and who are at the end of life.Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

"I think a lot of people, when you say the word palliative, they think the end of life is imminent. And that's not the case at all. These are conversations that should be starting to happen on move in or even before move-in." Sarah Murphy is a licensed practical nurse and the assistant director of care at The Hamlet's long-term care community in Vernon, British Columbia. She has been working long-term care for eight years and has served as a Care Service Lead,  Care Coordinator, and now the Assistant Director of Care.In this episode, we spoke with Sarah about the benefits and drawbacks of pre-printed orders, and the need to distinguish between palliative and end-of-life care.Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

How do we support the elderly and their loved ones as they transition through the phases of end of life? Registered Nurse Ryan Collins talks with us about how the Palliative Performance Scale tool and courses through the SPA-LTC program have helped him adapt care strategies for long-term care residents to ensure that they get the care that's right for them.Ryan Collins is a registered nurse and palliative care champion at a long-term care facility in St. John, New Brunswick. Along with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Nursing, Ryan has experience working in acute care settings in both Calgary and New Brunswick.As a palliative care champion, Ryan aims to provide a comforting end of life phase to the elderly and their loved ones when transitioning through a time of grief, sorrow, and uncertainty. Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

Dr. Melanie Leger is a palliative care physician in Moncton, New Brunswick. She recently developed standardized templates for order sets in palliative, to help guide community and long-term care health professionals as they review and update palliative protocols. The templates also increase efficiency by adding medication quantities and refill orders that can double as a prescription."Some of our nursing homes had order sets, but some didn't. This project made me realize that some of these order sets were sometimes dated. It made me think that having it reviewed by palliative care specialists can help make sure they are up to date and evidence-based."The SPA-LTC podcast has been selected by Feedspot as one of the  Top 15 Long Term Care Podcasts on the web!Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

How do we address the issues of health equity when jurisdictional issues create a gap between two systems of care? We spoke with Holly Prince about the barriers to care for Indigenous peoples, and the importance of equitable access to palliative care within Indigenous communities.Holly Prince is an Anishinaabekwe  and a member of Opwaaganisiniing  in Northwestern Ontario. She has a Master’s Degree in Social Work and is a Ph.D. Candidate in Educational Studies at Lakehead University. Holly’s research focus is on decolonial and Indigenous education and health, and community-based research. Holly is the Lead for the Indigenous People's Health and Aging Division at the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health, Lakehead University, where she works as a Project Manager. A part of her role involves planning, implementing, and evaluating palliative care education and health equity initiatives for Indigenous peoples across Canada. Holly is also the Project Lead for the Canadian Virtual Hospice’s LivingMyCulture.ca project.Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

A Green Care farm is a combination of agricultural activities and a population that could benefit from time in the outdoors. Green Care Farms CEO and Founder Rebekah Churchyard provides outdoor day programs for people with dementia, connecting them with nature on a farm in Milton, Ontario. The program includes planning and planting sensory gardens, and growing food for the local food. She says that research shows that these types of programs can result in a delay in admission to long-term care, while building psycho-social wellbeing.Rebekah holds a Master of Social Work in Gerontology, and works in Specialized Geriatric Services. Rebekah is also a Project Management Professional (PMP) and Psychotherapist. She relocated from Toronto back to Kitchener-Waterloo in 2020 on a mission to start Green Care Farms Inc.! In Toronto she gained extensive volunteer experience in charitable board governance and in municipal policy. Rebekah served as President and Vice-President with the Toronto Council on Aging Board of Directors and as an Accountability Table member with the City of Toronto’s Seniors Strategy. Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

How do we better support family, friends, and long-term care staff as they grieve the death of a long-term care resident? Joe Peters is a funeral director with more than 35 years of experience at funeral homes in Toronto. He has supported many family members and friends through grief, and he has also experienced a wide range of approaches to honoring the deaths of residents in long-term care. Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

Living with a disability can add extra complexity in health care settings, especially if communication is a challenge. Carrie Batt draws from her personal and extensive professional experience within the developmental disability sector to offer end of life care, support and planning for people across the disability spectrum. She helps people navigate systems for equitable and quality healthcare, and provides disability-informed end of life and grief support through her business. Seoul Care. Carrie also educates presents and rights for the disability, death, care, and bereavement communities about how untapped the topic of death, dying grief, loss, and disability currently remains. Seol Care: https://seolcare.ca/Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

How do we ensure that Indigenous people receive palliative care that aligns with their culture and spirituality? In this episode, guest host and researcher Mary Lou Kelley has a conversation with Jeroline Smith, a retired nurse, Elder and Knowledge Keeper who has made significant contributions to palliative care for Indigenous people. Jeroline talks about the importance of community, the need for more training and resources, and the need for more long-term care homes in Indigenous communities.Jeroline Smith is a retired nurse currently working as an Elder and Knowledge Keeper to advise the work of Canadian Virtual Hospice, the Lakehead University Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health, and the regional home care program in Manitoba. In 2019, she received the Award of Excellence from the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, and has made significant contributions to several national palliative care initiatives.Since 1972, researcher Mary Lou Kelley  has been engaged in gerontology and palliative care practice, teaching and research. She has made major contributions to research in long-term care, and rural and First Nations communities, using participatory, community development approaches to empower and support community members and front line workers.Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

How do we make mission statements real ? Pat Morden says that leadership is critical to ensuring that people have autonomy and a sense of purpose to understand the mission.Pat Morden, the 'upcycled' CEO of Shalom Village, is committed to enriching the experiences of those who need to live closer to care and want to live life on their own terms. Pat has worked to achieve this alongside others in a variety of settings, including as a front line nurse, university faculty member, CEO, executive coach, a member of numerous boards, and the captain of a world championship Canadian dragon boat team. Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

What role do End of Life Doulas play in long-term care, and how can they help residents, family members and long-term care staff during the dying experience? We spoke with End of Life Nurse Educator Olga Nikolajev about the role of an End of Life Doula in long-term care, and how they contribute to quality end-of-life care.Olga Nikolajev is an end of life nurse educator with over 25 years of professional experience as a registered nurse in various healthcare settings, including hospice palliative care. She facilitates online courses through Centennial College, as well as the End of Life Doula course through Douglas College. She's also the founder and director of the Death Doula Ontario Network. Olga has been involved in national, provincial, and local community efforts to shift the way we view and approach our dying experience, death and grief, including how we care for each other at the end of life and beyond. Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

Speech language pathologists have a unique and important role in a palliative approach to care, especially when it comes to managing risk and maintaining quality of life. Caitlin Buchell is a Speech Language Pathologist working in  Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. She works with individuals with neurological disorders at the end of life to maximize their quality of life and ensure that they're able to communicate. Caitlin also works in palliative care and is the consulting speech language pathologist with the Manitoba Medical Assistance in Dying team. Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) is a member-driven organization that supports and promotes the professions of more than 6,500 members and associates including over 800 audiologists. Their resource toolkit is designed to inform health-care professionals, patients/clients and their loved ones about common communication and swallowing issues at the end of life. Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

Bahar Karimi believes that compassion is the foundation to a palliative approach to care, and that it starts with ensuring that team members feel valued, safe and cared for.  She believes that we need a culture change in long-term care, one that identifies residents' multi-dimensional needs and gives team members the knowledge and tools to provide the best possibly care and quality of life.Bahar Karimi is the Executive Director of Long-Term Care Services and the Chair of Research at Thrive Group, a nonprofit organization that supports long-term care supportive housing and assistive living organizations in Ontario. Baha has a master's degree in nursing as well as a master's degree in Health administration, and is a certified health executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Her passion is advocacy for health system transformation, compassionate leadership, and for mobilizing teams to provide exemplary quality of care and services Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

When you think of paramedics, do you think of 911 and emergency services? A community paramedics program in Peterborough is working to provide palliative and social services to seniors at home, with a goal to help them live well at home  for as long as they can.  Paramedics provide medical, emotional and mental health supports, and can identify individuals who may be at risk. They are also an advocate for patients and caregivers, and develop strong relationships within the community.We spoke with Craig Jones, the Deputy Chief of Community Projects with the Peterborough County and City Paramedics. He brings 30 years of experience to the role and has a passion for supporting individuals in staying well at home.Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

A new diversity toolkit is providing resources for long-term care organizations to help raise awareness of issues of equity, diversity and inclusion. The Embracing Diversity: A Toolkit for Supporting Inclusion in Long-Term Care Homes is an interactive resource with print and online components that gives long-term care homes practical steps to nurture diverse and welcoming communities.We spoke with Michelle Fleming and Ashley Flanagan about the toolkit and the importance of understanding issues of equity, diversity and inclusion in long-term care. Michelle Fleming is a senior knowledge broker at the Ontario Centres for Learning Research and Innovation in Long-Term Care.  Dr. Ashley Flanagan is a research fellow in Diversity in Aging at the National Institute on Aging.For more information about the toolkit, contact Michelle at: MFleming@bruyere.orgLearn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

"That's where the communication bit really is important. There's still medicine along the way, there's still chronic disease management. but it's the soft skills and the relationships and how you can leverage that to really make that stay for the long-term care resident and their family as peaceful, as comfortable and as high quality for them as possible." Dr. Henry Siu is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University. He has a clinical interest in working with older adults in primary care, and his scholarship is focused on long-term care.  He has also been an active attending physician in a Hamilton Long Term Care home since 2010. Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

Courtney Hicks is a PhD student at the University of Waterloo in the School of Public Health Sciences, Aging Health and Wellbeing program. Her research focuses on a palliative approa h to care for persons living with dementia in long-term care settings. For two years, she worked as a Meaningful Connections Coordinator alongside a recreation and leisure team in a long-term care home in southern Ontario. During our conversation, she spoke about her personal and professional experiences with long-term care and palliative care, and the importance of building competencies in a palliative approach to care for all members of the team.Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

Essential life lessons from family caregivers: On autonomy, commitment, and diversityIn this final episode, co-hosts Katie and Sibtain consider how the project intersects with their personal and professional lives. During this conversation, they discuss three important take-home messages from those who participated in this podcast series. These messages connect to the themes of autonomy, commitment, and diversity."I want to take these stories and experiences that these caregivers have so graciously given us as an indicator of where our healthcare system is today but also where it needs to go." - SibtainLearn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

Everyone has their own perspectiveIn this episode, you’ll meet Suzanne, a retired teacher who – along with several siblings – provides care to her mother. As co-hosts Katie and Sibtain ask questions about the experience of sharing the caregiving responsibilities within a large family, Suzanne reflects openly on how everyone – including her mother – has their own perspective! "We are very lucky in that she listens to everyone but says, ‘nope; this is what I want’." – SuzanneLearn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

Some friends become familyIn this episode, Rina shares wisdom from decades of experience supporting a close friend whose physical and cognitive function is changing. She keeps things grounded as she narrates the specific and creative ways she contributes to her friend’s quality of life. When it comes down to it, Rina’s story is about treating others as we’d like to be treated, and about prioritizing the seemingly small yet very important things that mean so much to quality of life.“I always think, what would I like?” – RinaLearn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/