The final report from TREC's 2024 policy forum on
trauma informed care in long term care has now been released!

(Download a copy of the report via this link.)

Trauma Informed Care is an approach that prioritizes safety, trust, choice, and collaboration. It involves designing care environments that support autonomy, promote healing, and avoid re-traumatization for both individuals receiving care and the staff providing it. Trauma informed care integrates an understanding of trauma into everyday practice, with attention to cultural, historical, and gender-related factors.

TREC is leading two projects to advance understanding of the trauma burden among care staff in long term care and to collaboratively develop evidence-based resources that support the implementation of trauma informed care. Both projects are generously funded by Alberta Health (Assisted Living & Social Services) and build on work initiated at a two day policy forum held at the University of Alberta in October 2024.

Trauma Research for Adverse Care Aides’ Experiences (TRACE) Project

TRACE is an upcoming survey looking to understand how trauma, both personal and workplace-related, impacts the well-being of Health Care Aides (HCAs) working in LTC settings.

The goals are to:

• Identify experiences of trauma across the lifespan of HCAs, including events that occur in the workplace
• Explore the connection between trauma exposure and outcomes such as mental health, burnout, overall well-being, and the intention to leave the profession
• Identify key factors within personal and workplace contexts that influence these outcomes.

TRACE will be conducted via an online survey to be completed by HCAs currently working in LTC in Alberta.

Timeline: The survey pilot will launch in Spring 2026, with full implementation planned for Fall 2026.

Trauma Informed Care Demonstration Project

TREC is working to co-develop a trauma informed care resource kit for continuing care homes (CCHs) in Alberta.  The resource kit project is intended to strengthen trauma informed care in CCHs by helping staff enhance quality of life and care for residents who may have experienced trauma.

Our goals are to:

• Co-Develop accessible trauma-informed care resources with CCHs, working closely with staff at every level—care aides, nurses, managers, allied health professionals, and support teams. 
• Develop and test practical tools that can be shared widely, making it easier for CCHs across the province to adopt a trauma-informed approach to care. 
• Build a learning community where CCHs can connect, share ideas, and learn together to keep trauma-informed care practices strong and sustainable over time.

Timeline: Recruitment for early co-development of the resource kit will begin in Winter 2025, followed by additional homes joining for full implementation in Fall/Winter 2026.

For further details about either project, please contact Fiona MacKenzie, Project Coordinator, at fiona.mackenzie@ualberta.ca.