Atlantic Research Collaboration on Long-Term Care (ARC LTC)

 

About ARC LTC

ARC LTC is a program of research comprised of researchers, trainees, and sector collaborators studying the Atlantic Canadian long-term care (LTC) sector with the aims of:

1. Improving quality of work life for Atlantic Canadian LTC staff.

2. Improving LTC resident outcomes in Atlantic Canada.

3. Building research capacity in the Atlantic Canadian LTC sector.

 

WHY

Long-term care (LTC) is an essential component of the health system, yet often undervalued. Before the pandemic, concerns existed about care staff’s high risk of burnout, poor physical and mental health and low job satisfaction. The pandemic placed additional stress on this workforce, leading to serious staff shortages and increasing concerns about LTC staff and resident health and well-being.

There is limited data available to understand the quality of work life for LTC staff in Atlantic Canada or what can be done to support staff and resident quality of care. Our studies seek to provide evidence essential for the LTC sector to identify quality improvement initiatives and target resources to enhance staff and resident outcomes. For more information on ARC LTC please email arcltc@msvu.ca or call 902-457-6235.

ARC LTC Team of Researchers, Collaborators, and Trainees Meet In-Person June 5-6 in Halifax

The project team convened for a collaborative meeting to review and reflect on findings coming out of the Long-Term Care Staff Quality of Work Life in Atlantic Canada (QWL-AC) project. This meeting was an opportunity to engage in open dialogue among team members who bring a wide range of experience and perspective. Through this, we identified gaps, priority areas, and new ideas for analysis to better inform our understanding of the essential LTC work force. Additionally, we explored next steps in terms of interventions to support staff quality of work life and understand the connection between staff well-being and resident outcomes.

 

 

Calling all Graduate Students

If you are a graduate student, or know a graduate student, who is interested in working with ARC LTC data for their thesis or trainee project please reach out to arcltc@msvu.ca with your proposed research question and project timeline.

 

Long-Term Care Staff Quality of Work Life in Atlantic Canada (QWL-AC)

A cross-sectional survey of long-term care staff in 53 randomized Atlantic Canadian care homes conducted in 2023/2024 and capturing staff perspectives on their well-being, work life and work environment.

Project website: QWL-AC

Long-Term Care Staff Quality of Work Life in Nova Scotia (QWL-NS)

A longitudinal, cross-sectional survey of long-term care staff from a convenience sample of Nova Scotia LTC homes. This research includes two waves of data collection, the first wave (W1) conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021/2022) with staff from 10 care homes. The second wave (W2) was conducted in 2023/2024 with staff from seven of the original care homes who agreed to follow-up surveys.

Project website: QWL-NS

Research Team

Dr. Janice Keefe, Mount Saint Vincent University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Rick Audas, Memorial University of Newfoundland

 

 

 

Dr. Carole Estabrooks, University of Alberta

 

 

 

 

Dr. Rose McCloskey, University of New Brunswick

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gail Tomblin-Murphy, Nova Scotia Health

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Marilyn Hodgins, University of New Brunswick

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Adrian MacKenzie, Nova Scotia Dept. of Health & Wellness

 

 

 

 

Dr. Caitlin McArthur, Dalhousie University

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Kathleen Norman, Nova Scotia Health

Dr. Lori Weeks, Dalhousie University

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Robert Wilson, Memorial University

 

 

 

 

 

Kelli O’Brien, Newfoundland & Labrador Health Services

 

Department of Health and Community Services Newfoundland & Labrador

Department of Community Health & Senior Care, Health PEI

MacLeod Group

New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes (NBANH)

Nursing Homes Services, Department of Social Development, Government of New Brunswick

Newfoundland & Labrador Eastern Health

Nova Scotia Health (NS Health)

Nova Scotia Department of Seniors and Long-term Care

Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness

Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association (NHNSA)

Prince Edward Island Long-term Care Private Operators Association

Shannex

Paula Richardson, Atlantic Region Manager, Mount Saint Vincent University (May 2023—Present)

 

 

 

 

 

Emily Hubley, Knowledge Mobilization Manager & NS/PEI Coordinator, Mount Saint Vincent University (June 2023—Present)

 

 

 

Reanna Tucker, NS Coordinator, Mount Saint Vincent University (September 2024—Present)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Caitlin Robertson, NB Research Coordinator, University of New Brunswick (May 2025—Present)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simranpreet Kaur, Research Assistant, Mount Saint Vincent University

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Trainees:

Jane Logan, NB Coordinator, University of New Brunswick (September 2024—April 2025)

Annika Wiebe, NS Research Assistant/NB Coordinator, Mount Saint Vincent University (February 2024—January 2025)

Marlene Robichaud, NB Manager, University of New Brunswick (September 2023—June 2024)

Katie Edgar, NB Coordinator, University of New Brunswick (September 2023—August 2024)

Colin Walsh, NL Manager, Memorial University of Newfoundland (October 2023—January 2024)

Emily Doyle, NL Coordinator, Memorial University of Newfoundland (January 2024—August 2024)

Callie Thomson, Research Assistant, Mount Saint Vincent University (September 2023—May 2024)

Kazeem Adefemi, Postdoctoral Fellow, Memorial University of Newfoundland (November 2024—Present)

 

 

 

 

 

Liam Bennett, Nova Scotia Research Assistant, Mount Saint Vincent University (September 2024—June 2025)

 

 

 

 

Caleb D’entremont, MSc candidate Memorial University of Newfoundland (September 2024—Present)

 

 

 

 

 

Heather Dicks, Postdoctoral Fellow, Mount Saint Vincent University (April 2025—Present)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amber Duynisveld, MA candidate, Mount Saint Vincent University (April 2023—Present)

 

 

 

 

Isaiah Hipel, PhD candidate, Saint Mary’s University (September 2023—Present)

 

 

 

 

Kayla MacLeod, MA candidate, University of New Brunswick (September 2024—Present)

 

 

 

 

Ogochukwu Onyeso, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of New Brunswick (July 2025—Present)

 

 

 

 

 

Emily Rutledge, MHA, Dalhousie University (November 2024—Present)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lanlan Xin, MA candidate, Mount Saint Vincent University (January 2025—Present)

ARC LTC Partners: