McMaster researcher pushing for stronger palliative approach in long-term care homes
Dec 6, 2021
SOURCE: McMaster Daily News
A $1.5 million Health Canada grant is allowing a McMaster nursing expert to support the long-term care sector in implementing a palliative approach to care that could benefit thousands of Canadians.
Researcher Sharon Kaasalainen will build a repository of tools and for reforming palliative care in long-term care (LTC) facilities, including training more staff, promoting program development and capacity building; and consolidating these resources in an accessible national database.
She said that COVID-19, which proved lethal for LTC residents, laid bare major deficiencies in the existing care system. These included chronic staffing shortages, a lack of awareness around patients’ preferences and a negative perception of LTC facilities as ‘death houses.’ Ongoing personnel shortages also mean existing staff are unable to attend education or training sessions around palliative care.
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McMaster Daily News
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