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Essential Care Partners are Essential for Patients^[1] in All Health and Care Settings^[2]: Bringing Evidence to Life and Busting Myths through Stories

We worked with essential care partners and patients to bring evidence to life and to busted myths through stories that show how essential care partners benefit care, experience, safety and outcomes, including during COVID-19. 

An essential care partner is a person who provides physical, psychological emotional, and spiritual support, as deemed important by the patient. This care can include support in decision making, care coordination and continuity of care. Essential care partners can include family members, close friends or other caregivers and are identified by the patient or substitute decision maker. 

Essential care partners are different to general visitors; they have a vital role in a patient’s care plan, including during the pandemic. 

These stories were written by members and friends of the Essential Together Patient and Caregiver Advisory Group. 

How Might We Bring Them Back Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor has welcomed essential care partners since March 2020. Lisa is a Patient Advocate involved in setting up their Designated Care Partner program. Read Lisa’s story.

Find the Helpers Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital plans for their Designated Care Partner program to continue beyond the pandemic. Read this story from Janice Kaffer, CEO at HDGH.

Everyone Must Have Access Pamela is a mother and essential care partner to her son who has multiple complex disabilities and has fought to be allowed to be with her son as an essential care partner. Read Pamela’s story.

I am a Human Being Serena is a patient with a chronic condition that causes pain requiring emergency care. Read more about her experience visiting an emergency department alone.

Emi’s Story Emi is 6 years old, deafblind, requires full support for all daily living activities, and is frequently ill. His parents are his sole caregivers. See their story

[1] For the purposes of this report, “patient” includes clients and people living in long term care/nursing homes/advanced care homes, other congregate care facilities, and those receiving care in their home.

[2] Health and care settings refers to anywhere where people receive health and care. This can include hospitals, long-term care/nursing homes/assisted living and other congregate care settings as well as primary care, outpatient care and care in the home.