Reimagining Care for Older Adults: Next Steps in COVID-19 Response in Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes (Canada)

Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and Canadian Patient Safety Institute

The full report, published in July 2020, is available here: Reimagining_Care_For_Older_Adults_July-2020

Key Points:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the long-term care and retirement home sector in Canada hard, with devastating effects in some homes. Eight in 10 COVID-19-related deaths in Canada are in long-term care facilities, double the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average.
  • The report is based on more than 40 interviews with family partners in care, healthcare leaders and policy makers. It focuses on promising practices in six key areas that have the potential to reduce the risk of future COVID-19 outbreaks or mitigate their effects: preparation; prevention; people in the workforce; pandemic response and surge capacity; planning for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care; and presence of family.
  • This report is intended to support those delivering healthcare to older adults in congregate settings – staff, managers, policy makers, family and caregiver partners and others who are all working hard to manage tough situations now, while also trying to look and plan ahead.
  • This report has informed a new program of work – LTC+ Acting on Pandemic Learning Together – which is being led by the CFHI and CPSI. This program is supporting long-term care and retirement homes to strengthen their pandemic preparedness and response through coaching, funding and peer-to-peer support.

About the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and Canadian Patient Safety Institute:

A newly amalgamated organization that brings together the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and Canadian Patient Safety Institute works with partners to share proven healthcare innovations and best practices in patient safety and healthcare quality. Working together with patients and other partners, we can deliver lasting improvement in patient experience, work life of healthcare providers, value for money and the health of everyone in Canada. The organization is a not-for-profit charity funded by Health Canada. Visit cfhi-fcass.ca and patientsafetyinstitute.ca for more information.

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