Grant: Training Grant: Patient-Oriented Research Training Grant - Health System Stream

The goal of our implementation project is to enable the Ontario Association of Residents' Councils (OARC) to develop a practical, legislatively-supported, evidence-informed and patient (resident)-oriented program to help long-term care (LTC) residents shape the place they call home. Our project establishes a partnership between knowledge users, LTC residents, researchers and trainees to co-create knowledge that will improve the health and wellbeing of LTC residents. Guided by an integrated approach to research - in which stakeholders are actively involved in all aspects of the study - we will undertake three aims: 1: Synthesize existing knowledge on approaches to engage LTC home residents in organizational design and governance of LTC homes. 2: Assess community capacity to implement and sustain a program to engage LTC residents in organizational design and governance of LTC homes. 3: Co-design a program to engage LTC residents in organizational design and governance of their LTC homes. This work is particularly timely in light of new legislative requirements (Fixing Long-Term Care Act, 2021) that require LTC licensees to engage residents in quality improvement and operational planning. OARC, a nonprofit association funded by the Ministry of LTC, is uniquely positioned to contribute and facilitate knowledge from the perspectives of LTC residents and disseminate findings through their networks of LTC residents, homes and stakeholder organizations. Our findings will be integrated into OARC's strategic and operational plans, thereby ensuring impact for LTC homes' policy and practice and, ultimately, improving the quality of life and sense of home for LTC residents.