Integrating the Palliative Approach to Care

Sponsored by Maxwell Management Group Ltd.


Members: $120 or sign up for all 4 sessions for only $440 (save $40)
Non-Members: $180 or sign up for all 4 sessions for only $680 (save $40)

Four-part series!

As homes continue to work with the legal requirement to integrate a palliative care philosophy, this series will provide members with ongoing support in this area. 

Pick up fresh ideas from experienced partner organizations and explore best practices for integrating a palliative approach that is sensitive to the multiple dimensions of each resident. Our sessions will cover building family trust, increasing comfort in palliative care discussions, understanding the needs of diverse groups and how social workers can support your staff and families.

Webinar 1 Thursday, February 9, 2023 10:00 am – 11:30 am		Enabling a Holistic Pathway for Palliative Care >Review the key elements of a palliative approach to care with respect to the Fixing Long-Term Care Act >Understand how homes are providing care and services based on a holistically-applied palliative care philosophy. >Reflect on and share what homes have learned so far about implementing a palliative approach to care – what’s worked and what remain barriers and challenges. >Discuss what conversations about palliative care options can look like with residents, families and/or substitute decision-makers. Explore the session's speakers Nadine Valk, Director of Education and Strategic Partnerships, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO)
Webinar 2 Thursday, February 16, 2023 10:00 am – 11:30 am		The Trauma-Informed Approach to Palliative Care >Explore the effects of trauma and how the principles of a trauma-informed approach can be applied in palliative care. >Learn how to create a trauma-informed care environment that is sensitive to the needs of residents, families, staff and caregivers impacted by trauma, especially those from marginalized communities. >Engage in a dialogue about traumas related to palliative care planning and homes’ experiences in supporting families through grief and bereavement.   Explore the session's speakers Rami Shami, Hospice Palliative Care Consultant, Rami Shami Consulting
Webinar 3 Thursday, February 23, 2023 10:00 am – 12:00 pm		Building Family and Caregiver Trust in Palliative Care >Discover new ideas for how to build trust around palliative care when speaking with families. >Hear about the “outside of the box” examples of approaches to engage with families and caregivers about palliative care that maintain compliance with the Fixing Long-Term Care Act regulations. >Learn techniques and tips to increase families’ comfort during advanced care planning, including during admissions. Explore the session's speaker Liane Pelissier, Client Services Manager, Family Councils Ontario (FCO) Cathleen Edwards, Education Manager, Family Councils Ontario (FCO)

Webinar 4 Thursday, March 2, 2023 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Special Skills: How Social Workers Can Support a Palliative Care Approach >Find out how social workers can assist staff and administrators with a palliative care approach, including providing support to families. >Gain insight into the role of social workers in advanced care planning with respect to requirements under the Fixing Long-Term Care Act regulations. >Learn from a case study into how social workers are involved with implementing a palliative care program and end-of-life care, including different ways they provide post-death supports for families and support culturally diverse residents.   Explore the session's speakers Vanessa Rankin, Director of Policy and Communications, Ontario Association of Social Workers

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Cancellations: Cancellations will be accepted up to five working days prior to the date of the program less a 15% administration fee that will apply regardless of the status of payment. Registrants who fail to attend the program or cancel after the deadline date shall be liable for the full fee. There is no charge for delegate substitutions. The AdvantAge Ontario Education Department reserves the right to cancel or reschedule this program.

Moira Welsh is the author of Happily Ever Older, about evolving ways to live in our later years. She is an investigative reporter with the Toronto Star and is leading a new multi-year project focused on aging well. Moira has written extensively on seniors’ issues, with a focus on long-term care, along with issues related to social justice, health and the environment. Moira has co-authored three National Newspaper Awards and a Michener Award for Meritorious Public Service Journalism. She was a finalist for the Justicia Award for Legal Reporting and the Canadian Hillman Prize for investigative journalism “in service of the common good.” 

Suellen is the CEO Emeritus at Sherbrooke Community Society Inc. in Saskatoon. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Masters of Science from the University of Saskatchewan. She is a Global Partner for Western Canada for the Eden Alternative™ and has trained over 4500 Certified Eden Associates in in-person and online training courses. Suellen consults to organizations and coaches individuals in the areas of leadership, physical environment and culture change.

As a Registered Nurse, I have always had a heart to care for people. My professional career has seen me work in a variety of nursing roles from acute care, gerontology, critical care and various management roles.  This has given me a well-grounded perspective in terms of health and social care.  With Masters qualifications in Oncology and Human Resources, I began to explore roles within Aged and Social care settings. I have been fortunate to work in multi-national roles and influence health care culture through roles such as Aged Care Management of care homes and community services, Regulation experience which has seen me work in National Government compliance and regulation sectors.

After working in learning and development and publishing, it wasn’t until I was 30 that I began working with people living with a dementia and it changed my life. I worked for the Care Consortium at the UK Alzheimer’s Society where we explored and developed new ideas to support people living with a dementia, staff, volunteers, partners and families. It was a dynamic team and the people I met fired my passion to challenge complacency, controlling care, loneliness and the absence of love that I saw and felt in many of services I worked in and visited at that time. I have colloborated with so many inspiring people who have made think hard about what matters most in life and it is my challenge to make what matters a reality for others. 

Constance (Connie) Lacy is the Director of Seniors’ Services for the Region of Waterloo responsible for Long Term Care, Seniors’ Supportive Housing, home care/supports and community programs. Prior to this, she served as Director of Services for Seniors in the Region of Halton. Connie has over 30 years of experience in health, community and education services including 13 years of senior leadership to Long Term Care, Seniors’ Housing and Community Programs.  

Connie is an active leader in the Seniors’ Services sector and is the Chair of the Board for AdvantAge Ontario. She has served on the Board of Directors as Seniors’ Housing representative and Vice Chair over the past three years. Connie is always looking for opportunities to share knowledge and expertise with others in the sector and is a strong advocate for Seniors’ campuses and person-centred care.

Paige Fernandes has been the Planning and Community Engagement Coordinator for 3 years at Belmont House, a not-for-profit long-term care and retirement home located in Toronto. Her primary role is to manage the projects under 2019-24 strategic plan. This includes overseeing the implementation of the Butterfly Model of Care by Meaningful Care Matters on the dementia care floor with her colleague, Elleni Bouronikos. Belmont House is more than halfway through their Butterfly journey. Prior to this role, she managed the quality improvement and education program at Belmont House after completing a Master’s in Science in Public Health and Health Systems from the University of Waterloo. Her graduate research focused on supporting care coordination of seniors’ healthcare through technology.

Alex is the director of communications and marketing for The Green House Project, overseeing the non-profit’s messaging and external publications. He is an experienced writer and editor who helped launch Skilled Nursing News, a leading industry trade publication based in Chicago in 2017. At SNN, he developed a deep and broad knowledge of nursing home finance, reimbursement, and regulation. Alex’s work has also appeared in the Boston Globe and the Boston Business Journal.