Claim OwnershipStrengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care
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© 2025 Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care
Description
Individuals in long-term care (LTC) who are reaching end-of-life have unique physical, emotional, social, psychological, and spiritual needs. A palliative approach to care ensures these needs are being met in a compassionate way that enhances the quality of life, limits suffering and provides needed comfort.
This podcast explores the palliative approach to long-term care through conversations with patients, health care professionals, family members, researchers and others who want to improve how we care for people in long-term care.
Production of these podcasts has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.
Selected by Feedspot as one of the Top 15 Long Term Care Podcasts and one of the "20 Best Nursing Home Podcasts" lists for 2024!
Selected by MillionPodcasts as one of the Top 60 Long Term Care Podcasts, Top 45 Palliative Care Podcasts and Top 70 Caregiver Podcasts on the web.
45 Episodes
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"One Green Care home that I just loved was kind of messy and untidy. You had the feeling that life was happening all around you, and it was busy enough that not everybody could tidy up entirely ... a little bit of what we did yesterday, reminding us today of what we did yesterday, which actually with dementia is a very good idea. And the woman who had initiated it identified that the culture had three elements to it: One was 'do with, not for'. Two was 'joy and purpose every day'. And t...
"Stories in Motion are a way to give the unspoken a voice. Because so often with the people I'm working with, they've not had that voice...but if we can put it into a story, if we can put it into a world where anything can happen and people can say anything, then those unspoken thoughts, feelings get transposed and transformed into something for the person who creates, and for the person who receives it." Learn more about Stories in Motion: https://www.thecreativecocoon.com/ As a registered e...
"If I had one wish of what the healthcare system knew about end of life doulas, it would be that if you embed end of life doulas into your healthcare settings, not as healthcare professionals, but as social emotional supports that their job would be a lot easier. People would be aware of advanced care plans, and people would be aware of actually just thinking through what they want. Families would be more educated, so families would be calmer and more understanding, and they would know what t...
"There are people who are saying we can't continue to do what we've always done. Don't tinker around the edges and make things a little bit better in the same old template that you've always had. Get rid of that. Change it radically, be bold, move forward." Elroy Jespersen envisioned a different type of community where people living with dementia could live their own best life. His vision has resulted in The Village Langley, a groundbreaking community designed for people living wi...
How does architectural design impact the quality of life for residents in long-term care? And how does design influence a palliative approach to care? We spoke with two architects at Montgomery Sisam Architects who have a particular passion for thoughtful design in long-term care. Neda Basharat has been focused on creating home-like environments for seniors within the long-term care sector for over a decade. Her recent work explores innovative models in long-term care, which supports and prom...
"It's about looking at the finer things... preferences in their meals, and giving families special spaces to be together with their loved ones in those final moments ... ensuring we meet the needs of each individual resident." Grand View Manor is a long-term care and assisted living facility located in Berwick, in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley. Laurel Pizarro is a registered nurse and the Director of Care at Grand View Manor with over 10 years experience in geriatric care a...
"It's kind of an altered state of consciousness where they are just not themselves. Dealing with my dad, sometimes it comes across as delusions and paranoia, it's this otherness, it is not him. It's a body response or a mind's response to these things that they can't handle." - Marlene Moorman Delirium is frightening for both the affected person and their loved ones. It can be caused by many factors and is often characterized by confusion and behavioural changes. We spoke about delirium and d...
"There's kind of a magical quality with music, a healing or a support really that comes from the music. As long as people have been around, we have been making music and it really does connect with us on an emotional level." - Sheila Killoran Sheila Killoran is the Education Lead for the Covenant Health Palliative Institute. She is a certified music therapist and holds a Master's in Creative Arts Therapies with an interest in guided imagery and grief. Sheila teaches at the University of Alber...
"Sometimes people can really shut down and the horses can get in there and reach in and welcome them back to being present. The horses are gifted. It's all them." Jennifer Semach is the founding Executive Director and program facilitator of Walkabout Farm Therapeutic Riding Association, a charitable organization in Minden, Ontario that offers free mental and physical health services on 100 acres of land with the help of therapeutic support animals: horses, cats, and rabbits. She also brings ...
"You don't know what's going wrong. And you have all these theories, but it's a long time before dementia is one of the hypotheses..." Fay Martin is a retired social worker who lives in Haliburton County, a small rural community in Ontario. She cared for her husband, who had dementia, until his death in 2022. He died with - but not of - dementia, sparing them the ravages of the later stages of that disease. Nevertheless, it knocked their lives sideways. Learn more about the Strengtheni...
What is person-centered care and how does it contribute to a 'good' death? We spoke with Kristen Lew-Byrne, a registered social worker who talked to us about patient-centered care, and how social workers work with team members, residents and families to help achieve a good death means for each individual. Kristen Lew-Byrne is a registered social worker who has worked alongside and supported residents and their families within long-term care for 11 years. She works from a holistic pers...
"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...
"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 no...
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 Ba...
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 ...
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 Universit...
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 car...
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://...
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 ...
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...
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