The Last Word: LTC residents take control of their life and death

Every day across Canada seniors who live in long-term care are sent to hospital for medical care, some in their final days of life. In fact, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information, nearly one in five transferred from long-term care to the ER die within a day - meaning they were likely near end of life. Which raises the question, were these transfers necessary, ethical and what the residents really wanted?

Host Avis Favaro talks with Jill Oliver, an ethicist from the William Osler Health System in Brampton, Ontario about a new program called POET, which stands for the Prevention Of Error-based Transfers. The aim - to make sure residents have their wishes respected, especially at the end of life. And two members of a LTC home that adopted POET - Lindsay Passfield and Lori Norris-Dudley - describe the profound difference the program has made in the life and death of the residents they care for

This episode is available in English.

Episode transcripts can be found on our podcast web page.

Learn more about the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

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