"It's about looking at the finer things... preferences in their meals, and giving families special spaces to be together with their loved ones in those final moments ... ensuring we meet the needs of each individual resident."

Grand View Manor is a long-term care and assisted living facility located in Berwick, in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley.

Laurel Pizarro is a registered nurse and the Director of Care at Grand View Manor with over 10 years experience in geriatric care and a passion for making a meaningful impact in long-term care.

Helen Stoakes is a registered nurse originally from the UK with a background in dementia and palliative care. She is the Nurse Manager at Grand View Manor and leads the Palliative Care Champion Committee.

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

"It's kind of an altered state of consciousness where they are just not themselves. Dealing with my dad, sometimes it comes across as delusions and paranoia, it's this otherness, it is not him. It's a body response or a mind's response to these things that they can't handle." - Marlene Moorman

Delirium is frightening for both the affected person and their loved ones. It can be caused by many factors and is often characterized by confusion and behavioural changes.

We spoke about delirium and dementia with Pam Holliday, Margaret Keatings and Marlene Moorman, members of SPA-LTC's Partner Working Group.

A Partner Working Group is composed of family or care partners with diverse experiences. They add value to research and the development of clinical tools to support professionals and family care partners. The Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care program has put together a Partner Working Group with the support of a grant from Health Canada to help align the materials created for professionals working in long-term care homes and for family members caring for persons living in long-term care homes.

Learn more about SPA-LTC resources for care partners

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/

"There's kind of a magical quality with music, a healing or a support really that comes from the music. As long as people have been around, we have been making music and it really does connect with us on an emotional level." - Sheila Killoran

Sheila Killoran is the Education Lead for the Covenant Health Palliative Institute. She is a certified music therapist and holds a Master's in Creative Arts Therapies with an interest in guided imagery and grief. Sheila teaches at the University of Alberta and the University of Saskatchewan, and has provided music therapy for the past 20 years in Palliative Care, Hospice, and Continuing Care settings in Edmonton Alberta.

Learn more about music therapy programs:

Canadian Association of Music Therapists: www.musictherapy.ca
Canadian Music Therapy Training Programs:
Related Links - CAMT : CAMT
https://www.musictherapy.ca/about-camt-music-therapy/related-links/

Learn more about the Strengthening a Palliative Approach to Long-Term Care project at: https://spaltc.ca/