"We want to make sure that we're putting the individual right at the middle of everything, and incorporating elements of their own strengths and their own abilities that they've had throughout their life, and incorporating that narrative life history. So it comes down to little things, like how does a person like their coffee but then also the big things as well - honouring their past and who they are, and appreciating that they come with a whole history of a life."

Daphne Noonan is a long-term care leader, adult educator, and CEO and co-founder of Person-Centered Universe, with more than 20 years of experience in aging, dementia care, and person-centered practice. She is also the research program manager for SPA-LTC at the University of New Brunswick, where she has helped lead the province-wide implementation of a palliative approach to care in long-term care.

Daphne's work is grounded in a belief that older adults should be supported to live with dignity, purpose, and personhood, and that meaningful change requires translating those values into everyday practice.

Learn more about Person-Centered Universe: https://www.personcentreduniverse.com/

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

"There's so much that we can do to help people maintain their independence and quality of life. Sometimes relatively small supports such as meals, transportation, social connection, exercise, or giving caregivers a break can be the difference between somebody continuing to live successfully at home or needing a higher level of care such as long-term care or a hospital."

Halliburton Highlands Health Services provides access to essential high quality clinical programs for the residents, cottagers, and visitors of Halliburton County and the surrounding areas, including several community programs. We had a conversation with Amanda Rowden, the Director of Community and Outpatient Services, and Jamie Allen Russell, the Recreation Rherapist and coordinator for Halliburton's Adult Day program. Amanda is a nurse with 23 years of experience and 10 years working as a leader in rural community healthcare. Jamie has over 23 years of experience implementing programs to serve the community with care and purpose.

Learn more about the Haliburton Highlands Adult Day Program: https://hhhs.ca/community-programs/adult-day-program

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

"I'm trying to make life as simple as possible for caregivers because nobody's ever said to me, 'Caregiving is fun. I can't wait to do it.' Because it is hard, it's stressful. It's worrisome. It's exhausting. It's mentally tiring. It's difficult. So how do we make it easier in the areas where it's actually important?"

Andrew Karesa is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and a proud husband and father of two young sons. After witnessing how his family coped to support his grandmother with her Alzheimer's diagnosis, Andrew realized he needed to take action. This inspired the creation of blueBell Village, aimed at restoring the personhood and independence of those living with dementia.

With Bluebell, Andrew has seen lives transformed for both individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, and he is passionate about fostering a world where care is tailored to each individual's needs.

Learn more about blueBell Village: bluebellvillage.ca

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

"Healthcare providers and our society in general, they're uncomfortable with talking about death and things that might lead to death. And we just need to be brave. As healthcare providers, we need to have the courage to have those conversations because people want them. That has been one of the surprising things that I've found is that people are just waiting for you to ask the question."

Elizabeth Wojtowicz is a primary healthcare nurse practitioner with 25 years of experience focusing on the care of older adults. Her research interests include implementing a palliative approach to care in long-term care homes, quality of life for people living with dementia, and nurse practitioner models of care in long-term care homes.

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

The Golden Villages is a proposed rural, land-based dementia care community located in Mount Pleasant, Ontario. Rooted in agriculture, environmental stewardship, and dignity-centred care, the project is exploring a new model of aging that reconnects people living with dementia to nature, meaningful daily activity, and community.

We spoke with Larissa Stadnichuk, a farmer, stuntwoman, stunt coordinator, and founder of The Golden Villages. After watching someone she loved live with dementia, and knowing her own family would always choose a garden over a hallway and fresh air over fluorescent lights, she set out to imagine a different future for aging—one where care doesn’t separate people from community, but reconnects them to it through the land.

Learn more about The Golden Villages project: https://thegoldenvillages.com/

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba is a vibrant, innovative, and inclusive community providing long-term care, palliative care, and neurological rehabilitation services through inpatient, outpatient, and outreach programs.

We had a conversation with Kathleen Klassen, the Chief Executive Officer at Riverview. In this role, Kathleen is leading an organizational culture transformation towards person-directed living, a relationship-based, individualized approach where each person's lifestyle needs and preferences are honoured and respected.

Learn more about Riverview: https://rhc.mb.ca/

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

"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 idea or concept. But once it was explained to them, they felt much better and understood what was happening.

We all seek understanding and explanation in some way, and I think that can really help people really understand what's happening to their loved one, but also understand what's happening to themselves."

Doctor Zahra Goodarzi is an academic geriatrician and an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary, where she is also the Division Head for geriatric medicine, the medical lead for specialized geriatric services and transition services, and the Program Director for Leaders in Medicine, Dr. Goodarzi's current work looks at the development of clinical pathways for mood disorders, dementia, and frailty across the care continuum in clinical care, emergency, and long-term care.

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

"When we are talking about culturally safe care, it's really having that background, that trauma-informed care approach. And that's for any person, it's not Indigenous-specific. To make it Indigenous-specific is to understand that Indigenous people in Canada have had a very different history. Every single Indigenous person that you have met or spoken to in Canada has been affected by the residential school system, as the last one closed in 1996.

It's a reflective practice .... looking at our physical care, mental, emotional, and spiritual care, and every single person as an individual. And that's an Indigenous way of thinking and doing. And I think that would benefit anybody going through the system." - Gloria Ranger

Valerie Jensen is a regional palliative care clinical coach with the Northwest Regional Palliation Care Program at St. Joseph's Care Group in Thunder Bay and is a registered nurse working as a palliative care clinical co-lead with Ontario Health Northwest.

Barbara Persky is a primary care nurse practitioner and a palliative care clinical coach for Kenora's Chief Advisory and Indigenous primary care program in rural areas around Kenora.

Gloria Ranger is the manager of Indigenous Cultural Safety and Education at St. Joseph's Care Group in Thunder Bay.

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/