Part of our Grief & Bereavement Literacy ECHO Series

In long-term care homes, grief is not a single moment tied only to death. It is an ongoing, layered experience shared by the entire long-term care village: residents, families, staff, volunteers, and all who are connected to the home. Losses of independence, identity, memory, relationships, and familiar roles often begin long before the end of life, especially for people living with dementia. Yet despite the deep emotional impact of these cumulative losses, grief frequently goes unrecognized in long-term care due to time pressures, limited resources, and a lack of formal support. This session brings together lived experiences from BC long-term care communities, research-informed insights, and practical strategies to help care homes acknowledge, normalize, and compassionately respond to grief as an everyday part of life and care. Session poster you can print and share linked here.

Presenters:
Lisa Dawson – President of the Independent Long-Term Care Councils Association of BC
Grace Hu, MPH – Research Coordinator, BC Centre for Palliative Care
Gita Rafiee, RN, BScN, MN, GNC(C), CNCA – Clinical Nurse Specialist Long-Term Care at Fraser Health Authority
Naoko Watanabe, MSW, RCSW, Social Worker at Minoru Residence

This series is for anyone interested in increasing their knowledge around grief and bereavement to support them personally or in their professional careers.