Implementing, Evaluating, and Scaling Up of the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long Term Care (SPA-LTC) Program

The SPA-LTC program has been developed and refined through prior participatory action based studies. Evidence-based components of the program include: Palliative Champion Teams; Palliative Care Education, including illness-trajectory pamphlets for staff and family members; Comfort Care Rounds with staff; Prognostic Tools to trigger end-of-life discussions; Palliative Care Conferences; Bereavement Pamphlets for families; and Post-Bereavement Follow-Up for families, and staff The goal is to implement and assess this program across three provinces in Canada (Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba). The investigators will use the findings to revise the program and inform the scaling up of the program across diverse settings and provinces.