Respecting Residents' Goals of Care: Practical Tools for Caregivers

The Centre of Excellence recently published a series of evidence-based materials designed to improve the ability of long-term care staff to respect residents' goals of care. The materials provide valuable guidance on how to manage an acute health event, such as a hip fracture, while honouring the resident's wishes regarding care interventions and quality of life. The materials include Discuss Goals of Care During Acute Health Events, an e-training module for nurses, along with separate guides—known as care pathways—for nurses and personal support workers (PSWs) who care for residents with hip fractures.

The care pathways address everything from symptom management and diagnostic considerations to care planning, and prioritize interprofessional collaboration, along with open, clear communication among caregivers, residents and families. This approach aims to build trust and respect, and to support person-centred care.

The materials build on the success of SeeMe®: Understanding frailty together, a comprehensive method of developing, implementing and updating goals of care in collaboration with residents, family members and LTC staff. A peer-reviewed study, conducted by the Centre of Excellence and published in the Canadian Geriatrics Journal, documents the benefits of SeeMe®, as well as the impacts of its associated training programs. These benefits include high levels of satisfaction among families and staff, and a shift toward less-invasive intervention as residents and families opt for care that prioritizes quality of life.

View these tools and more on our Knowledge Translation page.

This 15-minute interactive e-module focuses on facilitating goals of care conversations during an acute health event. Tailored to long-term care and ready to integrate into other organizations own Learning Management Systems.