The BC Centre for Palliative Care (BC-CPC) is advancing collaborative efforts to strengthen a palliative approach to care in long-term care (LTC) settings across British Columbia. Through the Long-Term Care Collaborative for a Palliative Approach, health authorities, long-term care leaders, clinicians, and provincial partners are working to embed palliative principles into everyday care and better support residents and families throughout the long-term care journey.

A Palliative Approach Begins on Move-In Day

A palliative approach is not limited to the final days of life. It supports people living with serious, progressive health conditions by prioritizing quality of life, comfort, dignity, and care that reflects what matters most to each resident.

In long-term care, this means having meaningful conversations about goals of care, planning proactively for changing health needs, and recognizing and responding to symptoms early. It also means supporting families as they navigate changes, difficult decisions, and loss.

By integrating this approach from the time a resident moves into long-term care, care teams can focus on quality of life throughout the resident’s journey rather than responding only when health deteriorates. Achieving this requires shared priorities, practical guidance, and collaboration across the health system.

Working Together to Strengthen Care

Following a provincial round table convened by BC-CPC in partnership with Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care (SPA-LTC) in February 2024, provincial partners established a collaborative to identify priorities and support the integration of a palliative approach into long-term care.

The Collaborative brings together representatives from all five regional health authorities, Providence Health Care, contracted long-term care homes, BC-CPC, and the Ministry of Health. The Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC is a key contributing partner.

One important outcome is Essential Elements of a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care in BC, published in February 2025. It outlines key clinical and policy practices, including goals-of-care conversations, comfort and symptom management, and care planning that prioritizes quality of life. The Collaborative has also developed resources outlining recommended quality indicators to help organizations assess implementation and identify opportunities for improvement.

Why Consistent Measures Matter

Shared principles help define what good care should look like, but organizations also need ways to understand whether those principles are being put into practice. Meaningful quality indicators can help identify gaps, monitor progress, and guide improvements in care delivery.

This is important across the hospice palliative care sector. Without consistent definitions and measures, it can be difficult to compare information, understand differences in service availability, or identify where resources and additional support are most needed. Reliable information helps health system partners and organizations make better-informed decisions about service planning, access, and quality at the end of life.

This is also a priority reflected in BCHPCA’s work to standardize hospice data practices. Although BCHPCA’s framework focuses on community hospice services and BC-CPC’s indicators address long-term care, both initiatives demonstrate the value of consistent information in understanding current services, identifying gaps, and informing improvement.

Building a More Connected Approach to Care

Residents and families may need support from multiple providers and services as health needs change. Strengthening practices within long-term care, alongside a better understanding of community-based hospice services and capacity, can contribute to more coordinated care and clearer pathways to support.

The Long-Term Care Collaborative demonstrates how provincial partners can translate shared priorities into practical resources and meaningful measures. Continued collaboration, implementation, and quality improvement will be essential to making a palliative approach a consistent part of long-term care across British Columbia.

Ultimately, this work is about ensuring residents receive care that respects their dignity, reflects their preferences, and supports their quality of life. Clear practices, consistent measures, and collaboration across care settings are important steps toward achieving that goal.

For more information, visit the BC-CPC Long-Term Care Collaborative for a Palliative Approach (2023–2026) page to learn more about the initiative and explore its resources.