Engaging Clients Who Use Substances In Long-Term Care, Utilizing BPG Recommendations

About this event:

Substance use is becoming increasingly common among residents in long-term care homes in Ontario and so is the stigma surrounding it. As practitioners, one of our key goals is to stay informed about best practices for engaging clients who use substances. This webinar will showcase how our BPSO program conducted a gap analysis to better understand how we currently engage clients with substance use. Through this process, we identified several goals aligned with best practice guideline (BPG) recommendations.

Once our goals were clear, we developed measurable indicators to help us effectively implement these recommendations. In this session, you'll gain insight into the importance of having open discussions about substance use with clients, especially during their transition from community living to long-term care. We’ll also explain how the Transitional Lead (TL) team at HNHB Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) developed and introduced screening questions to identify clients with a history of substance use or abuse.

For clients who disclose substance use and express an interest in exploring treatment options, the TL team collaborates with them to determine the next best steps — whether it’s harm reduction programs, cessation programs or other supportive services. By identifying clients with substance use histories, we can better understand how it impacts their overall well-being and their adjustment to long-term care.

The ongoing goal of the BSO program is to provide person-centered care tailored to each resident’s needs while enhancing the skills of interdisciplinary, front-line staff in long-term care through education and the modeling of best practices.

Presenters and credentials:

Natasha Ekelman, MSW, RSW, Transitional Lead, HNHB Behavioural Supports Ontario

Kathryn Peever, BSW, RSW, Transitional Lead, HNHB Behavioural Supports Ontario