Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care
Episodes
Understanding the many aspects of frailty: a conversation with Dr. Zahra Goodarzi
08 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"When we did work talking to patients and care partners and providers, a lot of patients and care partners weren't aware of frailty as an id...
Cultural safety and palliative care: a conversation with the North West Palliative Care Group
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"When we are talking about culturally safe care, it's really having that background, that trauma-informed care approach. And that's for...
Caring for and learning from our elders: a conversation with Renate Goodstriker
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"There's a lot of love and respect for our elders, but for ourselves too, as individuals. Generosity and humbleness and the teaching from ...
Dementia Widow: a conversation with author Fay Martin about Green Care Farms and how we care for those with dementia
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"One Green Care home that I just loved was kind of messy and untidy. You had the feeling that life was happening all around you, and it was busy ...
Stories in Motion: a conversation with Expressive Arts Practitioner Fay Wilkinson
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"Stories in Motion are a way to give the unspoken a voice. Because so often with the people I'm working with, they've not had that voic...
Living and dying with dignity, choice and compassion: a conversation with End-of-Life Doula Jennifer Mallmes
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"If I had one wish of what the healthcare system knew about end of life doulas, it would be that if you embed end of life doulas into your health...
Be bold, be different: a conversation with Elroy Jespersen about The Village Langley
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"There are people who are saying we can't continue to do what we've always done. Don't tinker around the edges and make things a...
Creating a home in long-term care: a conversation with architects Neda Basharat and Tony Ross
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How does architectural design impact the quality of life for residents in long-term care? And how does design influence a palliative approach to care?...
Creating meaningful spaces and experiences: a conversation with Laurel Pizarro and Helen Stoakes of Grand View Manor
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"It's about looking at the finer things... preferences in their meals, and giving families special spaces to be together with their loved ...
What is delirium? A conversation with members of SPA-LTC's Partner Working Group
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"It's kind of an altered state of consciousness where they are just not themselves. Dealing with my dad, sometimes it comes across as delusi...
Music Therapy in Palliative Care: a conversation with Sheila Killoran
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"There's kind of a magical quality with music, a healing or a support really that comes from the music. As long as people have been around, ...
Equine therapy in long-term care: a conversation with Jennifer Semach
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Sometimes people can really shut down and the horses can get in there and reach in and welcome them back to being present. The horses are gifted...
Caring for a partner with dementia: a conversation with Fay Martin
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"You don't know what's going wrong. And you have all these theories, but it's a long time before dementia is one of the hypotheses...
Person-centered care and the role of the Social Worker in Long-Term Care: a conversation with Kristen Lew-Byrne
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is person-centered care and how does it contribute to a 'good' death? We spoke with Kristen Lew-Byrne, a registered social worker who t...
The Nurse Practitioner's role in palliative care: a conversation with NP Jennifer Burgess
14 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"Nurse Practitioners are well positioned to help residents and families navigate their life limiting illness. We have the knowledge and skillset ...
Pre-Printed Orders and decision-making in palliative care: a conversation with LPN Sarah Murphy
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"I think a lot of people, when you say the word palliative, they think the end of life is imminent. And that's not the case at all. These ar...
Tools for for transitions in end-of-life care: a podcast with Registered Nurse Ryan Collins
02 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do we support the elderly and their loved ones as they transition through the phases of end of life? Registered Nurse Ryan Collins talks with us a...
Order sets for improving palliative care: a conversation with palliative care physician Dr. Melanie Leger
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Melanie Leger is a palliative care physician in Moncton, New Brunswick. She recently developed standardized templates for order sets in palliative...
Health Equity in palliative care for Indigenous peoples: a conversation with project leader and researcher Holly Prince
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we address the issues of health equity when jurisdictional issues create a gap between two systems of care? We spoke with Holly Prince about th...
Social programs for people with dementia: a conversation with Green Care Farms founder Rebekah Churchyard
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A Green Care farm is a combination of agricultural activities and a population that could benefit from time in the outdoors. Green Care Farms CEO and ...
Transitions and support when a loved one dies: a conversation with funeral director Joe Peters
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we better support family, friends, and long-term care staff as they grieve the death of a long-term care resident? Joe Peters is a funeral dire...
Palliative Care for people living with disabilities: a conversation with Death Doula/ Grief Educator Carrie Batt
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Living with a disability can add extra complexity in health care settings, especially if communication is a challenge. Carrie Batt draws from her pers...
Palliative and long-term care for Indigenous people: a podcast with Nurse, Elder and Knowledge Keeper Jeroline Smith
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we ensure that Indigenous people receive palliative care that aligns with their culture and spirituality? In this episode, guest host and resea...
Finding purpose in long-term care: a conversation with Shalom Village CEO Pat Morden
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we make mission statements real ? Pat Morden says that leadership is critical to ensuring that people have autonomy and a sense of purpose to u...
End of Life Doulas in long-term care: a conversation with Olga Nikolajev
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What role do End of Life Doulas play in long-term care, and how can they help residents, family members and long-term care staff during the dying expe...
The role of Speech Language Pathologists in long-term care: a conversation with Speech Language Pathologist Caitlin Buchell
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Speech language pathologists have a unique and important role in a palliative approach to care, especially when it comes to managing risk and maintain...
Compassionate Leadership in Long-Term Care: a conversation with Thrive Group Executive Director Bahar Karimi
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bahar Karimi believes that compassion is the foundation to a palliative approach to care, and that it starts with ensuring that team members feel valu...
Community paramedics and a palliative approach to care: a conversation with Craig Jones
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of paramedics, do you think of 911 and emergency services? A community paramedics program in Peterborough is working to provide palliat...
Embracing Diversity: new tools to support inclusion in long-term care
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A new diversity toolkit is providing resources for long-term care organizations to help raise awareness of issues of equity, diversity and inclusion. ...
Goals of Care in Long-Term Care: a conversation with physician and researcher Dr. Henry Siu
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
"That's where the communication bit really is important. There's still medicine along the way, there's still chronic disease manag...
Meaningful Connections: a conversation with PhD student and researcher Courtney Hicks
19 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Courtney Hicks is a PhD student at the University of Waterloo in the School of Public Health Sciences, Aging Health and Wellbeing program. Her researc...
Special Series: Cup of Care- conversations with family caregivers - Episode 8
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Essential life lessons from family caregivers: On autonomy, commitment, and diversityIn this final episode, co-hosts Katie and Sibtain consider how th...
Special Series: Cup of Care- conversations with family caregivers - Episode 7
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone has their own perspectiveIn this episode, you’ll meet Suzanne, a retired teacher who – along with several siblings – provides care to h...
Special Series: Cup of Care- conversations with family caregivers - Episode 6
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Some friends become familyIn this episode, Rina shares wisdom from decades of experience supporting a close friend whose physical and cognitive functi...
The physician's role in Long-Term Care: a conversation with physician Dr. Sandy Shamon
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Sandy Shamon is a physician and medical director working in long-term care, and a palliative care consultant at Sinai Health in Toronto, Ontario, ...
Special Series: Cup of Care- conversations with family caregivers - Episode 5
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Caregiving is just what I doIn this episode, Sheila, a Nehiyaw (Cree) woman from Treaty 6 Territory, explains how she supports an adult son living wit...
A conversation with palliative pain and symptom management consultants: Jen Logan and Kim Rogers
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jen Logan has been nursing for 25 years and has worked in palliative care in many capacities, including community nursing care coordination for a pall...
The Serious Illness Conversation Guide in professional practice: a conversation with clinical nurse specialist Gita Rafiee and physician Dr. Nick Petropolis
21 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Gita Rafiee is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Fraser Health in British Columbia, and a clinical Instructor at Vancouver community college. She has e...
Special Series: Cup of Care- conversations with family caregivers - Episode 4
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When the going gets tough, the tough get goingIn this episode, Darrel looks back on pivotal moments in his caregiving journey, including the moment he...
A family's experience with long-term care: a conversation with teacher and family member Sandra Chow
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sandra Chow is a recently retired teacher and program consultant who worked for 30 years with the Waterloo and Hamilton boards of education. She has c...
Advocating for a better long-term care system: a conversation with Palliative Care Physician Dr. Amit Arya
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Amit Arya is a palliative care physician who works in hospital, home care, and long-term care facilities, and is also a professor at the Univers...
The role of the personal support worker in long-term care: a conversation with Personal Support worker Jackie McDonald
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jackie McDonald recently retired after being a Personal Support Worker for the past 27 years. She has worked in both community and long-term care sett...
Education and research for nurses in long-term care: a conversation with Professor and researcher Dr. Patricia Strachan
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Patricia Strachan is an associate professor in the School of Nursing at McMaster University. Her clinical background is in emergency intensive car...
Special Series: Cup of Care- conversations with family caregivers - Episode 3
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A self-styled approach to disability supportIn this episode, you’ll meet sisters Krysta and Kayley. In addition to being a family member, Krysta als...
Advocating for nurses and personal support workers in long-term care: a conversation with Nurse and Educator Laura Bulmer
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Bulmer is a Registered Nurse with a Masters in Education who has extensive palliative care experience. As full- time faculty in a Toronto colle...
Strengthening a palliative approach in long-term care: a Conversation with Professor Dr. Mary Lou Kelley
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Since 1972, researcher Mary Lou Kelley has been engaged in gerontology and palliative care practice, teaching and research. She has made major contr...
Special Series: Cup of Care- conversations with family caregivers - Episode 2
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Keeping family close while living at a distanceMarlene shares her experience of keeping family close while living at distance. She explains how long-d...
Special Series: Cup of Care- conversations with family caregivers: Episode 1
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join co-hosts Katie Ottley and Sibtain Ali for a series of conversations with Canadian family caregivers. As guests Marlene, Kayley, Krysta, Sheila, S...