Palliative Care in Long-Term Care Homes

Related topics: Home and community care Palliative and end-of-life care

Grandfather and grandson playing Xiangqi

Long-term care homes are for people with serious illnesses or declining health who need around-the-clock support. Care teams are trained to provide all end-of-life care and can call on specialized palliative care services for extra support.

For residents nearing the end-of-life in long-term care, moving to a hospital is generally not recommended.

What to expect

Based on your needs and situation, these services are available at your long-term care home: 

  • 24/7 access to nursing care
  • 24/7 access to care aid support for personal care (i.e., bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring)
  • Regular access to a doctor
  • Help with taking prescribed medications 
  • Pain and symptom management (i.e., complex pain, nausea, anxiety, shortness of breath)
  • Allied health services (i.e., physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, etc.)
  • Spiritual care services
  • Grief/bereavement support
  • Care plans that are aligned with your goals, or your religious or cultural preferences

Speak with the staff at your long-term care home for more information. 

How to access

For information on long-term care homes, visit the VCH long-term care page

Speak to your health-care team at your Long-Term Care home about What Matters Most to you.

Contact the home and community care access line in your area for information about consultations for healthcare providers in Long-Term Care.