BMC Palliative Care (Mar 2023)

Perspectives across Canada about implementing a palliative approach in long-term care during COVID-19

  • Julia Kruizinga,
  • Stephanie Lucchese,
  • Shirin Vellani,
  • Vanessa Maradiaga Rivas,
  • Sandy Shamon,
  • Karine Diedrich,
  • Laurel Gillespie,
  • Sharon Kaasalainen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-023-01142-3
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

Read online

Abstract Background Long-term care (LTC) homes have been disproportionately impacted during COVID-19. Purpose To explore the perspectives of stakeholders across Canada around implementing a palliative approach in LTC home during COVID-19. Methods Qualitative, descriptive design using one-to-one or paired semi-structured interviews. Results Four themes were identified: (1) the influence of the pandemic on implementing a palliative approach, (2) families are an essential part of implementing a palliative approach, (3) prioritizing advance care planning (ACP) and goals of care (GoC) discussions in anticipation of the overload of deaths and (4) COVID-19 highlighting the need for a palliative approach as well as several subthemes. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the implementation of a palliative approach to care, where many LTC homes faced an overwhelming number of deaths and restricted the presence of family members. A more concentrated focus on home-wide ACP and GoC conversations and the need for a palliative approach to care in LTC were identified.

Keywords