b'COPING STRATEGIESAdvice from the frontlinesStrategies to alleviate staff burnoutwhen caring for dying residentsA divided into five sub-themes, namelyfamily are adequately prepared for team of frontline researchers from Providence Health Carediffering expectations (staff, family,discussion regarding goals of care in B.C. looked at how staff feelresident), communication (with teams,when transitioning to long-term care they are affected by the increasingfamilies, and residents), need forfrom acute care or the community. number of resident deaths andsupport, need for acknowledgment,After move-in, the early conversation provided suggestions to help reduceand lack of education for staff should take place with the family the levels of stress and/or burnout.and families.regarding end-of-life care when residents have a chronic life-limiting A first phase of our study showedIn light of these challenges,diagnosis, such as dementia.loyal, committed interdisciplinaryparticipants were asked what staff who have low levels ofstrategies they would recommendOn an organizational level, increased depersonalization and a high sense ofas being helpful. Supportive actionresources, consistent workplace personal achievement. However, thestrategies are suggested for theprograms, and initiatives that attend study highlighted that almost 50% oflevels of the individual, team, andto the psychological and physical these interdisciplinary long-term careorganization, and for higher learning. well-being of staff across all care staff were experiencing moderate tocategories and disciplines are high levels of emotional exhaustion,At the individual level, the value ofrecommended, including in-house which can be an indicator of burnout.self-care is emphasized with thepsychosocial support.recommendation that long-term care Concerns about this prompted ainterdisciplinary staff should work withAlso recommended are specialized Phase Two study, which focusedthe expectation that their self-care iscommunication skills workshops, the on qualitative interviews and focusessential in this line of work. Time andintroduction of Core Competencies groups to examine the perspectivesspace to say goodbye to residents andin Palliative Care for all long-term of long-term care staff in a wide rangeto grieve/debrief is also an importantcare staff and physicians, team-of disciplines regarding the challengeselement of self-care and should bebuilding workshops, the involvement dealing with dying and death in long- built into the working day (as it is onof Occupational Health and Safety term care facilities and the supportivepalliative care units and within (OH&S) in the provision of educational strategies that may help reduce thehospice care).needs of staff to enhance emotional risk of staff burnout. wellness, as well as end-of-life care It was highlighted that within hospiceand emotional preparation built into Participants described the challengescare, there is a clear patient prognosis,professional curriculum education.and complexities of care involvedgoals of care are clear, and death in providing direct care to dyingis expected. In comparison, long- Although our work was conducted residents. These included difficultyterm care staff are working with anpre-COVID-19, we believe that the negotiating relationships with families,unpredictable, complex care group,recommendations/findings are now different expectations around careand the expectation from family andeven more relevant and support (families, residents, and team), andstaff around the goals of care mayfor long-term care staff is more intense thoughts and emotionsdiffer. There is a need for system levelurgent than ever. Any discussion associated with grief. Challenges werechanges to ensure that residents andabout the strategic organization 20 LONG TERM CARE TODAY Fall/Winter 2020'