Palliative-care survey a step forward towards completion

Survey name, components of cover letter discussed at recent meeting

January 27, 2010 -- Deron Hamel

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - A palliative-care survey being worked on by members of the Four Counties Long-Term Care Palliative Network has moved a step further towards completion, with the group adopting a survey name and an outline of components to be included in the document.

The Evaluation of Palliative Care Services form, as it will be called, is aimed at developing best practices in palliative care, recognizing staff members' efforts and sharing information.

During the Jan. 21 meeting the network adopted the survey's name and discussed the idea of developing a personalized letter to accompany the 12-question document.

The letter, it has been decided, will clearly explain that the survey is only related to end-of-life care, rather than overall care delivered at the home.

Palliative care engages many staff members in a long-term care home. Physicians, nurses, personal support workers, chaplains, dietitians, environmental services workers, volunteers and therapists all play a role in providing palliative care.

Through its questions, the survey aims to enhance all areas of palliative care.

"We want to show that the resident was valued (and) that the family was valued. This really means something to us and we want to make our process better," Patti Stanton of Hospice Peterborough and a network member told the OMNIway in November.

When completed, the survey will be distributed to the 28 homes within the network's catchment area.

OMNI Health Care-owned homes in the region include Burnbrae Gardens, Frost Manor, Maplewood, Pleasant Meadow Manor, Riverview Manor, Springdale Country Manor and Streamway Villa.

The final draft of the survey is expected to be ready for distribution by spring.

The Four Counties Long-Term Care Palliative Network holds five workshops annually to discuss best practices in palliative care in long-term care homes. The network consists of representatives from long-term care homes in Peterborough, Haliburton and Northumberland counties, as well as the City of Kawartha Lakes.

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