Ethics in Long Term Care

In order to understand how public policy promotes and/or hinders the development of an ethical culture in LTC, facilities must explore the interaction between public policy, organizational policies and procedures, and frontline staff ethical decisions and actions. LTC organizations want to provide high quality of care, and quality of life, to the older adult population they serve, and want the organizational policies and procedures to facilitate such quality care. However, just as LTC staff are sometimes restricted by organizational policies and procedures in terms of acting in the perceived ethical way, organizations are similarly restricted by larger public and social policies. Through discussions with a panel of expert stakeholders (e.g. policy makers, managers, staff, residents, family members and professional bodies) we will explore the interaction between public policy and organizational policies and procedures, generate an understanding of how public policy promotes and/or hinders the development of an ethical culture in the provision of long-term and dementia care, and seek consensus on the development of positive ethical cultures in LTC.

Faculty Supervisor:

Clive Baldwin

Student:

Michelle Ouellette

Partner:

Shannex

Discipline:

Social work

Sector:

Service industry

University:

University of New Brunswick