In Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), Eastern Health Region serves 65% of the NL population; the 16 Long Term Care facilities (LTCs), in its jurisdiction, identified and addressed many initial challenges through development of policies and practices. However, evaluation of the effectiveness of these measures to improve the care for seniors is essential. Our research focuses on?LTC residents and family-centered care interventions. To support the intervention, with the potential to change the way older adult care is provided in the province. Our aims include accelerating the availability of high-quality evidence to inform Canada’s rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic; iterative testing to enhance local collaborative efforts and help reorient the existing research infrastructure; and providing evidence on older adults’ care for decision-making and planning throughout Canada. The interventions will include: e-visits and electronic messaging; virtual mental health support; residents’ integrated COVID and non-COVID care plans including virtual care; and infection control and prevention training among LTC leadership. Our findings will be relevant to all Canadian provinces with a population living in rural communities and small towns, and other settings that have similarities to those LTC homes in this province. 

The research will be completed by December 2021 and expected outputs are: 

• Accelerate availability of high-quality evidence regarding COVID -19 management in LTCs; 
• Inform NL’s rapid response to COVID 19 in subsequent waves; 
• Enhance local collaborative efforts to reorient existing research infrastructure;  
• Provide evidence on seniors’ care for decision-making and planning within and across Canada; 
• Through knowledge synthesis bring the voices of the elders to the policy-making table; 
• Relevant to other rural communities and small towns in Canada with populations similar to NL.