PRIORITIES: Home-Based Palliative Care

IDENTIFYING GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES

A strong foundation for improving home-based palliative care begins with a clear understanding of where knowledge gaps exist. Identifying these gaps helps ensure that education, resources, and system changes are grounded in real experiences and focused on the areas of greatest need. By exploring the perspectives of patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, administrators and funders, the CHCA is developing meaningful solutions that strengthen care and support in home-based palliative care.

COMPETENCY = SKILLS + KNOWLEDGE + ATTITUDE

In this video, you’ll hear from home care leaders about how the Canadian Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Competency Framework is not only transforming practice—but redefining what it means to deliver compassionate, person-centred care at home, when it matters most.

Mapping the Palliative Care Experience

To better understand the realities of delivering and receiving home-based palliative care, the CHCA conducted an in-depth experience mapping process aimed at identifying barriers and opportunities from the perspectives of patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, funders and administrators. Through a multi-phased engagement approach that included regional workshops, key informant interviews, patient and caregiver surveys, and a national e-Delphi validation process, the CHCA received insights and experiences from more than 250 participants from across Canada.

Using an experience mapping process, the CHCA facilitated a structured and inclusive space for participants to reflect on how they think, feel, and act at key points along the palliative care journey. Discussions focused on four priority areas: advance care planning, assessment and care planning, communication, and the management of medications, equipment, and supplies.

The resulting experience maps offer both visual and narrative representations of the shared challenges and opportunities in home-based palliative care across the country. These insights are instrumental in shaping CHCA’s work on competency development.

Download the Summary Report : Mapping the Palliative Care Experience Multi-phase stakeholder engagement

Advance Care Planning

Gaps in skills, proficiency, and time for home care providers to engage in these important conversations were frequently identified. Understanding of disease trajectory and prognosis, and who to involve in initial and ongoing conversations are recurring challenges. Opportunities currently in practice include serious illness conversations, tools for advance care planning, communities of practice and palliative care networks.

Download the Experience Map for Advance Care Planning


Assessment and Care Planning

Many evidence-informed assessment tools are available, but a lack of knowledge, skills, and time to complete them often limits the use of these tools.  Although early identification and assessment of needs is critical to a palliative approach to care, this vital step is frequently missed.  Family caregivers experience challenges in being recognized and included in the care planning and delivery.  Opportunities include remote self-monitoring, evidence-based assessment tools, enhanced “circle of care” and simplified access to palliative care specialists.

Download the Experience Map for Assessment and Care Planning 

Communication

Currently, there is limited or no access to technology to support information sharing. Often, it is not clear who to communicate with or how. Information is routinely incomplete or inconsistent. Family caregivers are inundated with paper and pamphlets.  Opportunities include the Virtual Hospice as a resource for healthcare providers,  palliative clinical resource nurses and provincial consultation lines.

Download the Experience Map for Communication

Medication and Supplies

Mistakes and errors occur when supplies are lost or misplaced due to poor inventory management. Disposal processes for medications are not routine or well communicated. Given the importance of medication, equipment and supplies for home and community-based palliative care, the experiences we heard, the challenges providers shared, and the lack of solutions are alarming.

Download the Experience Map for Medication and Supplies 

Home-Based Palliative Care page

This project has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada.
The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada.

This post is also available in: French

Established in 1990, the Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) is a national non-profit membership association dedicated to advancing excellence in home and community care.

National Office: 905-567-7373     |    General Inquiries: chca@cdnhomecare.ca

2000 Argentia Road, Plaza 3, Suite 302. Mississauga, Ontario, L5N 1W1

ALL OF THIS IS HIDDEN

This post is also available in: French