Current Projects
Long Term Care Support Visitations During COVID-19 Pandemic
Principal/Co Principal Investigators
Janice Keefe (Mount Saint Vincent University), Stephanie Chamberlain (University of Alberta), Melissa Andrew (Dalhousie University).
Research Team: Lori Weeks (Dalhousie University), Grace Warner (Dalhousie University), Mary Jean Hande (Mount Saint Vincent University), Tamara Krawchenko (University of Victoria); Knowledge Users: Andrew MacDougall (Health PEI), Kathleen Norman (Shannex)
Funder:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research for Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement Program
Time period
December 2020-October 2021
Description
This multi-site implementation science project will examine the barriers and enablers to support visitation programs in long term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four care homes in Nova Scotia and two care homes in Prince Edward Island aer study sites. Project activities include survey of facility characteristics and review of relevant documents, interviews with care home staff, and family/friends approved as designated caregivers/partners in care. In addition, consultation with three other jurisdictions implementing similar family visitation programs will be undertaken.
Role of NSCA
Organizing/lead institution for the project.
Website
no project specific webpage
Contact Person
paula.richardson@msvu.ca
Seniors-Adding Life To Years (SALTY)
Principal/Lead Investigator
Janice Keefe (Mount Saint Vincent University)
Leadership Team
Dr. Janice Keefe (MSVU), Scientific Lead; Dr. Carole Estabrooks, Co-Scientific Lead, University of Alberta; Dr. Leah MacDonald, Clinical Lead, Vancouver Island Health Authority; Heather Cook, Office of the Seniors Advocate, BC; Heather Fifield, Lead Patient/Family Representative, Bridgewater.
Research Team
Investigators, clinicians, knowledge users (in alphabetical order):
Melissa Andrew, Dalhousie University
Hugh Armstrong, Carleton University
Pat Armstrong, York University
Katie Aubrecht, Mount Saint Vincent University
Sandra Bauld, Halifax, NS
Whitney Berta, University of Toronto
Naomi Black, Halifax, NS
Ivy Bourgeault, University of Ottawa
Susan Braedley, Carleton University
Fred Burge, Dalhousie University
Jackie Choiniere, York University
Denise Cloutier University of Victoria
Heather Cook, Office of the Seniors Advocate, BC
Greta Cummings, University of Alberta
Tamara Daly, York University
Carole Estabrooks, Co-Scientific Lead
Heather Fifield, Bridgewater
Elizabeth Findlay, Fraser Health Authority
Faye Forbes, Halifax, NS
Carmen Grabusic, Alberta Health
Andrea Gruneir, University of Alberta
Matthias Hoben, University of Alberta
Jayme Hunter, Fraser Health Authority
Trevor Janz, Interior Health Authority
Vicki Kennedy, Interior Health Authority
Jennifer Kirby, Halifax, NS
Mary Kjorven, Interior Health Authority
Janice Keefe (MSVU), Scientific Lead
Ruby Knowles, Nova Scotia Health and Wellness
Cameron Lynam, Fraser Health Authority
Leah MacDonald, Vancouver Island Health Authority
Jim Mann, Vancouver, NS
Emily Marshall, Dalhousie University
Margaret McGregor, University of British Columbia
Judy Nicol, Interior Health Authority
Kim Norman, Fraser Health Authority
Peter Norton, University of Calgary
Brian Pollard, Ontario Ministry of Health LTC
Jeff Poss, University of Waterloo
Della Roberts, Vancouver Island Health Authority
Rick Sawatzky, Trinity Western University
Corinne Schalm, Alberta Health
James Silvius, Alberta Health Services
Kelli Stajduhar, University of Victoria
Susan Stevens,Nova Scotia Health Authority
Deanne Taylor, Interior Health Authority
Gary Teare, Health Quality Council, SK
Funder
Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Time Period
April 2016-March 2021
Description
SALTY is a 4 year project which aims to add quality of life to late life for people living in residential long term care and for their caregivers, including family, friends, and volunteers who support their care. SALTY’s research is organized into four interrelated streams: Monitor Care Practice, Map Promising Approaches to Care Relationships, Evaluative Innovative Practice, and Examine Policy Context and the study will employ diverse and multiple methods to achieve its objectives. The SALTY team includes established and emerging researchers, decision makers, clinicians, and representatives for staff, volunteers, family, and residents. The study is being conducted in four Canadian provinces – British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia – and its results will have relevance for other jurisdictions.
Role of NSCA
Organizing/lead institution for the project
Website
Contact Person
pamela.fancey@msvu.ca
How Approaches to Care Shape the Pathways of Older Adult Home Care Clients
Principal/Lead Investigator
Janice Keefe (Mount Saint Vincent University), Susan Stevens (Nova Scotia Health Authority), Michelle Lobchuk (University of Manitoba)
Research Team
Laura Funk (University of Manitoba), Marilyn Macdonald (Dalhousie University), Martha MacDonald (Saint Mary’s University), Grace Warner (Dalhousie University), Lori Mitchell (Winnipeg Regional Health Authority), Julie Donaldson (Manitoba Caregiver Coalition), Kathryn Graves (Northwoodcare), Vicki Elliott-Lopez (NS Department of Health & Wellness); Project partners and collaborators: Canadian Home Care Association, Caregivers Nova Scotia, Health Canada
Funder
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Time Period
April 2018-March 2022
Description
This multi-site project will generate evidence to understand how approaches to care shape the pathways of older adult home care clients with chronic and long term conditions through the home care system. Project activities to include retrospective analysis of home care client assessment data, interviews with members of care constellations (clients, caregivers, workers, health care practitioners), and review of key policy documents.
Role of NSCA
Organizing/lead institution for the project
Website
www.homecarepathways.ca
Contact Person
TressieDutchyn@msvu.ca
Long Term Care Staff Quality of Work Life
Project Lead
Dr. Janice Keefe
Funder
Nova Scotia Health Research Fund
Time Period
November 2020 to November 2021
Description
This project will collect much needed information about the quality of work life of frontline staff in Nova Scotia’s nursing homes. Areas to be examined include: job satisfaction, burnout, work engagement, organizational context, etc. with attention given to the impact of COVID-19 on quality of work life. Established survey tools available from the Translating Research in Elder Care program at the University of Alberta will be used with 8-10 participating care homes in Nova Scotia.
Website
No specific website.
Contact Person
Pamela.fancey@msvu.ca
Mental Health Resiliency in Long Term Care
Principal Investigator
Janice Keefe (Mount Saint Vincent University)
Funder
Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association through funding from Healthcare Excellence in Canada
Time Period
August 2021-March 2022
Description
Working in collaboration with the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association (lead), this project explores the mental health supports required to address the continual fatigue and mental stress experienced by staff in long term care; develop and implement a sustainable multi-faceted support program that meets the needs of small to large care homes throughout Nova Scotia and determine the best implementation and accessible approach for ongoing mental health supports for the long-term care sector. Project activities include focus groups with sector representatives, scan of mental health supports in other jurisdictions, implementation of 2-3 initiatives in participating care homes and evaluation of initiatives in sample of participating care homes.
Role of NSCA
Conduct focus groups with sector representatives and scan of other jurisdictions. Develop and implement evaluation plan.
Website
No project specific webpage
Contact Person
Emily.hubley1@msvu.ca, Project Coordinator