LTC Sector Impact

Sharing Knowledge, Strengthening Expertise

Perley Health's Centre of Excellence in Frailty-Informed Care™ plays a lead role in generating and sharing the evidence-based best-practices needed to improve care across the LTC sector. The impacts of the Centre of Excellence's work grew significantly during 2024 thanks to a wide range of initiatives. These included Skills Days, a series of hands-on learning events where some 80 care professionals from a total of 14 LTC homes acquired practical skills and knowledge.

“What I appreciate about Perley Health is not only their innovation and expertise, but also their eagerness to share their knowledge and skills with other homes,” says Lindsay Passfield-Leu, Associate Administrator, Director of Quality and Resident Experience at Osgoode Care Centre, a 100-bed LTC home near Ottawa.

During 2024, the Centre of Excellence had 11 research papers published in peer-reviewed journals. Its webinar series attracted more than 600 care professionals. And it supervised the practicums of 24 university students. At dozens of conferences and events, Centre of Excellence and Perley Health staff also shared their expertise, and distributed tips sheets and booklets on how to readily apply best practices.

“I greatly appreciate the support of Perley Health, and particularly of Tania Paolini, Manager of Infection Prevention and Control,” says Sanja Deric, who recently assumed the same role at Glebe Centre, home to 254 residents. “Thank you for your ongoing guidance and encouragement in my new job.”

Another facet of this knowledge-translation effort is collaborating with outside groups, such as the Public Health Agency of Canada, on pressing issues.

“Perley Health's expertise in long-term care, and in communicating with residents, families and staff made them an ideal partner,” says Shaghig Reynolds, a manager with PHAC's Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an increasingly serious public-health threat, particularly among LTC residents. AMR can make it difficult to effectively treat otherwise benign infections and studies indicate that the unnecessary use of antimicrobials—especially antibiotics—is a major contributor. To decrease the unnecessary use of antimicrobials among LTC residents, PHAC partnered with the Centre of Excellence to develop and refine educational materials for LTC staff and essential care providers. PHAC is now sharing the revised materials with eight other LTC homes. The project is part of PHAC's Pan-Canadian Action Plan on AMR. If successful, this model of care—which engages clinicians, LTC staff, residents and families as antibiotic stewards—could be adopted across the country.

An Effective Partnership

"Perley Health's expertise in long-term care, and in communicating with residents, families and staff made them an ideal partner.” - Shaghig Reynolds, Manager, Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)