Palliative Care in Long-Term Care Homes
Related topics: Home and community care Palliative and end-of-life care
Long-term care homes are for people with serious illnesses or declining health who need around-the-clock support. Care teams are trained to provide all end-of-life care and can call on specialized palliative care services for extra support.
For residents nearing the end-of-life in long-term care, moving to a hospital is generally not recommended.
What to expect
Based on your needs and situation, these services are available at your long-term care home:
- 24/7 access to nursing care
- 24/7 access to care aid support for personal care (i.e., bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring)
- Regular access to a doctor
- Help with taking prescribed medications
- Pain and symptom management (i.e., complex pain, nausea, anxiety, shortness of breath)
- Allied health services (i.e., physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, etc.)
- Spiritual care services
- Grief/bereavement support
- Care plans that are aligned with your goals, or your religious or cultural preferences
Speak with the staff at your long-term care home for more information.
How to access
For information on long-term care homes, visit the VCH long-term care page.
Speak to your health-care team at your Long-Term Care home about What Matters Most to you.
Contact the home and community care access line in your area for information about consultations for healthcare providers in Long-Term Care.