LTC Orientation for Incoming Support
Publish Date:
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in supporting the care of our older adults in long-term care (LTC). Ontario’s LTC sector is a collection of dedicated and caring individuals who support quality care for all residents. It is important for you to understand the culture, values, and expectations in LTC homes before you begin working or volunteering.
This orientation is a first step to get you ready to work in LTC in a variety of roles, from support aides to PSWs and nurses.
This orientation is intended to support the orientation you will receive from a LTC home and contains both Ontario CLRI and external/partner resources. Additional resources will continue to be added. If you have any questions or suggestions for content, please email info@clri-ltc.ca.
Use the following links to skip down to a section.
Section One: Foundational Knowledge
Section Two: Communication and Person-Centred Care
Section Three: Providing Support in Long-Term Care
Section Four: Personal Care
Clinical care education is also available for health professionals redeployed to care for LTC residents:
Section One: Foundational Knowledge
Approx. Time of Completion: 90+ minutes
What is Long-Term Care?
5 minutes
In Ontario, there are more than 620 LTC homes with an average of 126 residents each. Residents are cared for by LTC teams that include PSWs, nurses, recreation therapists, and food service workers. LTC homes are regulated by the Ministry of Long-Term Care and the Long-Term Care Homes Act. Please read this short summary to get a better understanding of what LTC homes offer residents.
Residents’ Bill of Rights
5-20 minutes
All LTC homes in Ontario are governed by the Fixing Long-Term Care Act. The Ontario Residents’ Bill of Rights is part of this Act. The Act makes sure that residents get safe and consistent person-centred care in settings where residents feel at home, are treated with respect, and have the support and services they need to thrive. Please explore the following resources to learn more from residents and others about the rights of residents in LTC.
What is COVID-19
10 minutes
Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection that often shows up as flu-like symptoms that can be mild or severe. Residents in LTC homes are likely to be older, frailer, and may have chronic lung or neurological diseases. COVID-19 can spread more easily from one resident or team member to another. Please read the following information and guidance provided by the Ministry of Long-Term Care.
Infection Control
5-20 minutes
It is important to follow effective infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices when working in LTC homes. The IPAC courses and videos listed here give general instruction about hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as practice applying this knowledge to LTC-specific tasks and situations. These learning resources are based on current best practices and will support your new LTC role but it does not replace the infection control information provided to you by your LTC home.
Break the Chain of Transmission: IPAC Core Concepts and Practices (eLearning course)
IPAC While Supporting Residents at Mealtime (eLearning course)
IPAC While Travelling to and From an LTC Home (eLearning course)
IPAC While Administering Medication (eLearning course)
Section Two: Communication and Person-Centred Care
Approx. Time of Completion: 20 minutes
Team Communication in LTC
10 minutes
Learning and practicing effective communication techniques may lead to better care for residents and more fulfilling and effective work for care providers in LTC. The resource below will suggest some tips for communicating with residents while considering that each individual may or may not suffer from age-related impairments that impact communication such as hearing and vision loss, or dementia.
Communicating with Residents while Wearing PPE
5 minutes
All LTC homes in Ontario are governed by the Fixing Long-Term Care Act. The Ontario Residents’ Bill of Rights is part of this Act. The Act makes sure that residents get safe and consistent person-centred care in settings where residents feel at home, are treated with respect, and have the support and services they need to thrive. Please explore the following resources to learn more from residents and others about the rights of residents in LTC.
Supporting Communication with Families
5 minutes
Helping residents connect with their families is absolutely critical. The following resources are designed to support LTC homes and team members to effectively communicate with family members and use technology to support communication between residents and their family members.
Communication at End-of-Life
5 minutes
Transitioning to end-of-life care can be a difficult time for everyone, and it is crucial that LTC teams develop communication skills to foster therapeutic relationships with residents and their families and friends. The resources below will help you understand the difference between palliative and end-of-life care and help you build the skills to navigate conversations with team members and with residents and their loved ones. The webinars will support you in facilitating communication at end-of-life, by offering comfort, calmness, and strength.
Person-Centred Language
5-50 minutes
How we speak with and about people is really important in ensuring appropriate, respectful and inclusive care. Person-centred language should be used when talking to or about people who live and work in LTC. The e-course below will teach you how to use person-centred language.
Getting to Know a Resident
5 minutes
When you are working or volunteering in LTC, it is important to take the time to get to know individual residents to engage in meaningful relationships and deliver quality care. The following resources can be used to help you build these meaningful relationships quickly.
Section Three: Providing Support in LTC
Approx. Time of Completion: 20 minutes
Supporting Residents Living with Dementia
40 minutes
In LTC, over 60% of residents have a dementia diagnosis. As a result, it is important for individuals working or volunteering in LTC to have an understanding of how to support residents living with dementia. When you are working in LTC, you must follow the long-term care or retirement home’s policy about if or how you can support residents living with dementia. Please use the following resources to support you in interacting with residents living with dementia and support them in isolating themselves in their rooms.
Supporting Mobility in Long-Term Care
5-45 minutes
It is essential to understand how you can safely support residents living with mobility issues in LTC. The resource below will provide information on lifts and transfers and you will learn how to support a resident to stand from a chair and walk with or without a walker help a resident using a wheelchair. Please check with your LTC home manager before supporting a resident with mobility issues.
Recreational Activities in LTC
5 minutes
In an effort to minimize boredom and loneliness for residents living in LTC homes, we’ve put together a list of online resources for recreation team members to use in programming for residents. A lot has changed about day-to-day life for residents and we hope this list will provide some fun and relief.
Self-Care
It is important to remember to practice self-care. Anyone working in long-term care has free access to Homewood Health mental health resources.
Section Four: Personal Care
Approx. Time of Completion: 20 minutes
Oral Care
5 minutes
Oral health is important to the quality of care and life for residents living in LTC. Oral health supports nutrition and can help identify various medical conditions. These resources will show you the importance of oral health and how to provide some support to the LTC care team. Please follow the guidance provided by the LTC home before supporting a resident with personal care.
Bathing
15 minutes
Personal hygiene care is important to the quality of life and health of LTC residents. These resources will prepare you to support residents with all aspects of bathing. Please note that videos may be specific to hospital environments but general practices can be used in LTC. Please follow the guidance provided by the LTC home before supporting a resident with personal care.
Dressing and Continence
10 minutes
Residents in LTC will have different dressing, grooming and continence needs. This resource provides guidance on how to support residents living with dementia to dress, groom and use the washroom in a way that promotes privacy, independence, and safety. Please follow the guidance provided by the LTC home before supporting a resident with personal care.
Support at Mealtime
10 minutes
Mealtime is a highlight of the day for many residents and critical for health (nutrition, safety, and social opportunity). These resources will help you to safely support mealtime with residents and remind you how to support a safe and rewarding mealtime.
Related Resources
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