Below you'll find a list of all posts from December, 2016
Supporting palliative care patients is deeply rewarding, but it also comes with challenges. Nurses and personal support workers (PSWs) in the field must provide compassionate support in the final stages of life. As a result, they need to earn the trust of their patients quickly. Relationship building and careful coordination are critical. But caregivers can’t always be there for patients.
They’re concepts that are fundamental to nursing practice. Continuous learning. Collaboration. Nurses supporting nurses. Here’s what it all boils down to: professional isolation doesn’t make for high-quality care. On the surface, the fix is simple. Nurses should work together. They should reach out and impart knowledge and skills across nursing disciplines. When they’re caring for the same patients, they should make
This month, Indigenous leaders have had a lot to say about actions taken by the federal government. Trudeau’s recent address to the Assembly of First Nations resulted in praise, criticism, and calls for patience. One of the issues that’s been discussed most is health care. And with good reason. There are major gaps in health status between Indigenous and non-Indigenous
The number of Canadians living with chronic disease is at an all-time high. Many chronically-ill people manage their conditions at home, where they don’t have direct access to medical expertise. As a result, patient education has never been so important. Living independently is great. But in many cases, it requires a lot from those who have to keep track of their health
In many Canadian nursing homes, family engagement is low. Industry professionals are aware of the difference that loving support networks can make. But what’s the best way to encourage family members to get involved? Caring relatives may find it difficult to visit residents for various reasons. Some of the most common include geographical distance and overwhelming outside responsibilities. It might
It’s a well-known problem. A small percentage of Ontario’s patient population accounts for a large percentage of health care spending. The province’s Health Links initiative was designed to fix this issue – but how well is it working? In the years since they were introduced, Health Links have had a positive impact on the lives of high-needs patients. Care coordination
Family caregivers are one of our most important resources. Providing approximately 80% of the country’s home care, these unpaid workers are an integral part of Canada’s health care system. Now, health care leaders are beginning to realize their value. More than ever before, governments are making support for caregivers a priority. Ontario just announced $20 million in funding for respite care earlier this year.
