All Voices, Lasting Impact: Sparking Change for Safer Long-Term Care
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As the healthcare system across the country continues to face pressing challenges such as staff shortages and administrative burden, leaders and healthcare teams are often left with limited resources to devote to quality improvement and safety initiatives. Developing and implementing promising practices takes time and resources, but these investments can pay off through improvements in clinical outcomes and better experience of care for patients and residents, essential care partners, and the healthcare workforce. The rewards of successful initiatives can also be amplified through sustained support for the spread and scale of innovations. But leaders often need support at the start, before an idea becomes a proven success. Securing buy-in can be challenging when there are no results to show yet, and when the long-term sustainability of an improvement has not been established.
Helping teams turn insight into action
Safer care is built when every role has a voice and leaders are supported to test, adapt and sustain changes. That is why Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC) supports leaders and teams in shaping the conditions that make improvement possible.
When facing concerns over a lack of early support, organizational buy-in, or long-term resources, healthcare leaders seeking to make changes at their site may feel discouraged. HEC works to remove these barriers by helping healthcare leaders spark and strengthen a sustainable culture of improvement within their setting. Through targeted programs and resources assisting teams to explore how they can make changes for safer and higher quality care, participants are able to implement practices rooted in person-centred care and positive workforce environments.
From the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic to the ongoing system challenges of recovery and resource shortages, HEC has been a first line of support for healthcare organizations across Canada seeking to improve care, particularly within the long-term care (LTC) sector.
Reimagining LTC: Creating lasting impact
In difficult times, even more powerful lessons can be learned from stories of long-term success, sparked by great ideas and timely contributions. From the recent Reimagining LTC program offered by HEC in partnership with Health Quality BC in British Columbia, two impactful stories of sustained gains in care point to the tremendous benefits of starting a new initiative with tools and support.
Yucalta Lodge, Island Health
For Yucalta Lodge, joining the Reimagining LTC program was the perfect opportunity to focus on improving the appropriate use of antipsychotic (AUA) medications. This home shifted the culture of care towards person-centred approaches by expanding evening activities, offering a wider range of engaging programs, and embedding dementia care coaches to support staff.
The efforts of the care team quickly translated into meaningful results. The home achieved a 34 percent relative reduction in residents prescribed antipsychotics without an appropriate diagnosis, increased quality-of-life measures, and saw improved resident mood and behaviour.
“This program is something we have needed for a long time.”
“Evenings can be so long for people in LTC, it’s been wonderful to see these folks happier than ever.”
The Pines, Northern Health
Similarly focused on AUA improvement, The Pines home decided to use seed funding from Reimagining LTC to pilot an initiative for student volunteers to join as Resident Engagement Ambassadors and increase person-centred activities for residents. The REA students added hundreds of hours of resident engagement time to the home and helped address the challenge of ensuring sufficient availability to provide non-pharmacological interventions and activities for residents, while also creating a new opportunity for community engagement.
During the pilot period, the number of residents at risk of social isolation decreased by 24 percent, alongside improvements in AUA.
As a notable wider impact, REA students were inspired to pursue nursing education after participating in the program and expressed a desire to continue working in the LTC sector. This shows how safer care is shaped not only by current providers but also by inspiring the next generation to join a culture of safety and equity, ensuring benefits for years to come.
Moving Care Forward
The success stories of Yucalta Lodge and The Pines show how even small changes toward person-centred care and safety can make big impacts. They highlight how implementation and evaluation support can help build sustainable improvements in care. They also remind us that safer care is built when all voices – leaders, staff, residents, families, care partners and community members – are part of shaping the future.
Building on successes like those at Yucalta Lodge and The Pines, HEC is supporting teams across the country through Care Forward, a pan-Canadian movement of healthcare changemakers who share knowledge and apply proven approaches to improve care in their communities. With support from HEC through funding, expert coaching, peer connections, and targeted resources, Care Forward helps teams improve care in the areas that matter most to them.
Sparking Change in Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics (AUA)
As part of Care Forward, Sparking Change in AUA helps long-term care homes reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications through a person-centred approach. The program offers coaching, peer-to-peer support, educational webinars, curated resources, and monetary awards. Registration is open until October 1, 2025. Join the program today and bring person-centred change to your team.
Learn more about Canadian Patient Safety Week 2025 and how you can get involved.
