About the project
The Long-Term Care (LTC) Collaborative for a Palliative Approach in BC formed to influence LTC system change, as identified at the LTC Round Table 2024. Its key objective is to ensure that a palliative approach to care is integrated into the care for residents – from moving in until their end of life or discharge – and into LTC practices, processes and functions.
The need and value of a palliative approach to care in long-term care has been demonstrated in the literature for a number of years. BC Regional Health Authories are working to integrate a palliative approach into LTC, and the Ministry of Health acknowledges that a palliative approach is a key component to the LTC Quality Framework that supports quality of life and quality at the end of life in long-term care in BC.
LTC Collaborative members
Membership includes experts from regional health authorities in BC who have leadership roles in LTC integration of a palliative approach selected by their organizations. The Collaborative includes members from:
- Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
- Island Health Authority
- Interior Health Authority
- Fraser Health Authority
- Northern Health Authority
- Providence Health Care
- Contracted LTC Homes
- Strengthening Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care (SPA LTC)
- BCCPC
- Ministry of Health
Approach and Activities
BCCPC, in partnership with SPA LTC, hosted a provincial round table in February 2024 to find ways to enhance, spread and generate new palliative care integration strategies. At the round table, health authority LTC leaders and contracted LTC home leaders identified priorities and key activities, and committed to a one-year time-limited collaboration across BC health authorities.
In November 2024, Collaborative members endorsed the essential elements of a palliative approach in LTC [see publication below], and agreed to extend the LTC Collaborative for an additional 1-2 years to create a comprehensive initiative to achieve sustainable impact.
The projects agreed-upon key activities are:
- Promote the endorsed essential elements of a palliative approach (PA) in LTC to inform LTC provincial and health authority policy.
- Support the implementation of a palliative approach in health authority owned and operated and contracted operator sites.
- Inform the development of provincial and local quality measures for the integration of essential elements of a palliative approach in LTC.
- Recommend palliative approach metrics to inform the LTC quality framework in BC and the embedding of a palliative approach in LTC homes.
- Engage and contribute to the development of standardized education for a palliative approach in LTC for nursing, care aids, allied health and providers (MDs and NPs).
- Engage and contribute to the development of standard best practices for the essential elements of a palliative in long-term care
“The LTC Collaborative had an in-person meeting in February, which had people attend from all across BC. It was so inspiring!
Making connections, getting to know colleagues from other regions, learning about each others’ challenges and triumphs … I came away fulfilled and energized to keep going!
This group has inspired me to aim higher, and to persevere. It reinforced my belief that a palliative approach to care is the bedrock for an improved experience for residents, their families and staff.”
– Frances Wright, Palliative Outreach and Consultant Team Nurse, Providence Health Authority
Products and Outcomes
Essential Elements Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care
Strongly endorsed by key LTC leaders across BC, the essential elements are an evidence-based set of best practices to implement and sustain a palliative approach in long-term care. The purpose of outlining the essential elements is to influence LTC systematic changes, to ensure that a palliative approach to care is integrated into residents’ care, from the time they move in until their discharge.
The key elements are categorized as clinical-centric and policy-centric. The clinical-centric elements include effective goals of care conversations; optimizing comfort and symptom management; and care planning to support quality of life throughout the residents’ journey. The policy-centric elements include funding and service delivery models, engagement of healthcare clinicians, leadership, and volunteers, and quality monitoring and improvement initiatives.
The essential elements outline practical actions that intersect at the leadership, bedside/frontline, care-home, health authority, and provincial government levels.
For more information
For more information on the LTC Collaborative, please contact Della Roberts at droberts@bc-cpc.ca.
