End-of-Life Care

The following resource is designed to assist Long-Term Care (LTC) homes with the implementation of the End-of-Life Care During the Last Days and Hours Best Practice Guideline. Documents found in this resource are evidence-based, but it is not a program plan. Each LTC home is unique and each home is in various stages of guideline implementation. LTC homes are advised to use the resource at their discretion. For those resources that have copyright notations, it is recommended that LTC homes obtain permission from the primary author prior to implementing them within their setting. The Toolkit is a dynamic resource, and is being updated and revised on a regular basis by the LTC Best Practices Program team. Visit this site often to see what's new!

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RNAO BPG-A Palliative Approach to Care in the Last 12 months of Life

This best practice guideline (BPG) provides evidence-based recommendations to nurses and the interprofessional health team who support adults experiencing the last 12 months of a progressive life-limiting illness, and their families and caregivers.

Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (2020). A Palliative Approach to Care in the Last 12 months of Life. Toronto, ON: Author.

Retrieved from: https://rnao.ca/bpg/guidelines/palliative-approach-care-last-12-months-life

A Palliative Approach to Care in the Last 12 Months of Life

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RNAO BPG Gap Analysis- Palliative Approach to Care in the Last 12 Months of Life

A tool to assist with comparing your organization’s current practice with evidence-based RNAO best practice recommendations.

Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (2022)Gap Analysis- Palliative Approach to Care in the Last 12 Months of Life. Toronto. ON

Gap Analysis - Palliative Approach to Care - 2022.docx

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RNAO BPG Gap Analysis- End-of-Life Care During Last Days and Hours

A tool to assist with comparing your organization’s current practice with evidence-based RNAO best practice recommendations.

Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (2022)Gap Analysis-End-of-Life Care During Last Days and Hours. Toronto. ON

Gap Analysis - End-of-Life Care During Last Days and Hours - 2022 (1).docx

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RNAO BPG - End-of-life care during the last days and hours

This guideline focuses on recommendations for adults, aged 18 years and older, who have reached the part of the illness trajectory that includes the last days and hours of life. This guideline will provide evidence- based recommendations for Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses on best nursing practices for end-of-life care during the last days and hours.

Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (2011). End-of-life care during the last days and hours. Toronto, ON: Author. Retrieved from https://rnao.ca/sites/rnao-ca/files/End-of-Life_Care_During_the_Last_Day...

RNAO BPG - End-of-life care during the last days and hours

Strengthening a Palliative Approach in LTC (SPA-LTC)

A palliative approach in long-term care (LTC) empowers families and staff to provide personalized and high-quality care for LTC residents living with chronic and life-limiting illnesses. This approach provides individuals with a seamless transition from chronic disease management to appropriate end-of-life planning and care. A palliative approach is beneficial at any stage in a chronic illness to maximize comfort and respect a person’s wishes.

https://spaltc.ca/resource-library/?province=ontario

Strengthening a Palliative Approach in LTC (SPA-LTC)

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MAID Reflective Guide

Developed by a Canadian research team who has been funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research to explore the ethical, policy, and practice implications of Medical Assistance in Dying for Nurses. As part of our knowledge translation strategy, a Reflective Guide for Nurses that addresses six main areas of nursing practice in relation to Medical Assistance in Dying: nurses’ experiences, making moral sense, best practices, common dilemmas, and self-care. The Reflective Guide includes a video that provides a compelling insight into a few nurses’ experiences with Medical Assistance in Dying. This free guide can be used for individual study or as part of an educational offering.

https://www.maidreflectiveguide.ca/

Author: CIHR IRSC, Funding from CIHR: CIHR Project Grant PJT-148655; CIHR Project Grant PJT-169144

MAID Reflective Guide

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Cancer Care Ontario - Goals of Care toolkit

Goals of Care discussions help a person living with a life-limiting illness understand the serious nature of their illness. If the person is incapable, the discussions are with their substitute decision-maker. Goals of Care discussions also help healthcare providers to understand the patient’s values and goals for their care.

https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/guidelines-advice/treatment-modality/person-centred-care/goals-of-care-toolkit-oncology

Cancer Care Ontario

Cancer Care Ontario - Goals of Care toolkit

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Domains of Issues Associated with Illness and Bereavement

The recommendations within this BPG focus on quality of life, emphasizing a holistic approach to care that incorporates the person’s individuality and preferences, and that recognizes the person and family as the unit of care. Figure 2 identifies complex issues persons and their families may face when receiving palliative care, which are categorized into eight equally important domains.

https://bpgmobile.rnao.ca/sites/default/files/Figure%202%20Domains%20of%...