Grant: Health System Impact Fellowships - Doctoral Western Canada 1-year

There has been a longstanding call for long-term care (LTC) to use models of care that are more person-centered. However, the disruptions that occurred in LTC as a result of restricted family and volunteer presence during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a shift of focus toward relationship-centered care. There is information available on what good relationships look like, but there is not enough guidance on how to achieve or support these relationships. In this project, the applicant will co-design, with SHA LTC residents, family caregivers, and employees, a relationship-centered practice model that includes concrete, feasible, high-impact practices to support relationships in LTC. The project will rely on an adapted experience-based co-design approach divided into four parts over the course of one year. In quarter one, the applicant will observe 'a day in the life' of 3 residents and 3 family caregivers, and then interview them about their relationships in LTC to hotspots, or situations that, if improved, would have a significant impact on their experience (e.g., admissions process). The applicant will then observe common hotspots and analyze the material by identifying themes, writing a narrative to illustrate resident and family experiences of each hotspot, and putting this information into a presentation. In quarter two, the applicant will search the literature for typical LTC hotspots and recommended solutions. In quarter three, 12 residents and families and 12 LTC employees and leaders will be invited to co-design the model in 8 weekly co-design meetings. In quarter four, the applicant will search for resources to support the model and local examples of successful implementation of model elements or practices. A final report will then be created summarizing relevant background information, the co-designed practice model, local examples of successful implementation of model elements or practices, and available supporting resources.