BCCPA offers free Lunch + Learn webinars, virtual, one-hour sessions that bring together industry experts to discuss timely topics, providing valuable insights into the latest trends and developments in B.C.’s seniors’ living and care sector.
Stay tuned for upcoming sessions and watch previous recordings linked under the “On Demand” tabs!
Upcoming
Join BCCPA’s Lunch and Learn to explore the “Essential Elements of a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care, BC” created by a collaborative group of experts in long-term care from all regional health authorities, the BC Ministry of Health, and leadership from affiliated care homes, and published by the BC Centre for Palliative Care in January 2025.
Learning objectives
Participants can expect to: deepen their understanding of the elements of a palliative approach in long-term care and the benefits of integration; as well as explore strategies in the application, education, monitoring and sustaining of a palliative approach in long-term care, including establishing quality indicators.
Speakers
Gita Rafiee, RN CNS, Seniors, Community and Complex Care, Fraser Health
Della Roberts, RN, Consultant Strategic Initiatives, BC Centre for Palliative Care
Background
Strongly endorsed by key long-term care leaders across British Columbia, the essential elements put forth an evidence-based set of best practices to implement and sustain a palliative approach in long-term care. The purpose of outlining the essential elements is to influence systematic changes, to ensure that a palliative approach to care is integrated into residents’ care, from the time they move in to their discharge. The key elements are categorized as clinical-centric and policy-centric.
The clinical-centric elements include effective goals of care conversations, optimizing comfort and symptom management, and care planning to support quality of life throughout the residents’ journey. The policy-centric elements include funding and service delivery models, engagement of healthcare clinicians, leadership, and volunteers, and quality monitoring and improvement initiatives. The essential elements outline practical actions that intersect at the leadership, bedside/front line, care-home, health authority, and provincial government levels.
This interactive webinar with experts from the BC Centre for Palliative Care and Fraser Health will introduce you to their work in palliative care and provide strategies you can use to embed these practices into day-to-day operations.
Event Details:
Date: Oct 02 2025
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Zoom Webinar
Join BCCPA’s Lunch and Learn to explore the topic of “Cannabis in Seniors’ Care: Reducing Stigma and Supporting Wellness Through Education,” presented by Terese Bowors, a certified cannabis wellness coach with EduCanNation.
About the webinar:
Seniors are the fastest-growing demographic exploring therapeutic cannabis for managing symptoms such as chronic pain, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Yet many find themselves coming up short when seeking informed education and support to navigate this option confidently. This session equips care leaders with science-based education and awareness, empowering them to offer compassionate, non-judgmental support to residents who express interest in cannabis as part of their wellness journey.
Participants will gain a clear understanding of the therapeutic potential of cannabis for seniors, exploring evidence-based applications alongside strategies to address common misconceptions and stigmas. The session highlights the importance of creating a supportive environment where seniors feel respected and informed in their choices. Care leaders who find this topic compelling will also leave with resources to further their education on therapeutic cannabis. This presentation focuses on how education and understanding can promote client-centered practices and improve overall well-being.
Attendees will learn practical approaches to engaging residents, families, and healthcare providers in conversations about cannabis, ensuring safe access and fostering informed decision-making.
Key highlights include:
- Insights into why seniors are turning to cannabis at unprecedented rates and the barriers they face in accessing reliable information.
- A review of current scientific evidence on cannabis’s role in seniors’ wellness.
- Strategies for addressing stigma and facilitating informed, respectful conversations in care settings.
- Guidance on supporting safe access while encouraging ongoing exploration of this evolving field.
This interactive session equips participants with tools to meet the needs of seniors exploring cannabis, fostering environments of respect and informed choice. Join us to explore how education can transform perceptions, reduce stigma, and support seniors on their wellness journeys.
Join BCCPA’s Lunch and Learn to explore the topic of “Revolutionizing Senior Living: Defeating Loneliness and Amplifying Wellness“, presented by the team from Seton Villa Retirement Centre.
About the webinar:
Drawing on over 30 years of expertise in long-term care, assisted living and supportive housing, Michele Cook, CEO of Seton Villa Retirement Centre, and her team are excited to present two initiatives that are transforming the quality of life of their residents: dramatically reducing loneliness and elevating wellness.
Canadian research on the loneliness epidemic amongst older adults’ reports rates from 30% to a staggering 70%. Seton Villa’s targeted approach in identifying lonely residents and implementing meaningful strategies reduced loneliness rates to just 5%. Presenters will share their formula and offer practical strategies to foster social connection, specifically designed groups, staffing model insights, and real-life testimonials from residents.
Facing the challenge of recruiting recreation staff, they then sailed into uncharted territory by creating a Kinesiology position, the first of its kind at Seton Villa. This new role has improved the quality of their fitness programming and increased the breadth of services offered by the multi-disciplinary team. One year later, 50% of residents are meeting the recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week, reporting less boredom and a new intrinsic motivation to move. They will walk you through the Kinesiologist’s role, performance indicators, and share video highlights from aquafit to ‘Wimbledon Workouts’ and hear from individual residents on how Kinesiology has revolutionized their quality of life.
Presenters will share budget numbers, staff-to-resident ratios and show how they achieved meaningful outcomes without increasing staffing costs. You will hear about their unique model and how this non-profit Retirement Center has delivered on its mission to provide affordable housing for over 50 years. Find out about their innovative founder, why they are consistently voted #1 Retirement Centre in Burnaby and provide exceptional quality at rates within the means of seniors on low incomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Attendees will be able to implement strategies for faster new resident social integration and build residents’ confidence to contribute, ultimately reducing loneliness.
- Attendees will be able to integrate the role of Kinesiology into their team and apply tools to measure the success.
- Attendees will learn how to redesign their staffing model to achieve improved quality of life outcomes and residents’ satisfaction without increasing staffing costs.
Presented by speakers from Seton Villa Retirement Centre:
Michele Cook, CEO
Nellmarie Uludag, Recreation and Leisure Program Lead
Jay Dave, Kinesiologist
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, Nov. 27 2025
Time: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: Zoom Webinar
On Demand
Click the links below to view recordings of past Lunch + Learn sessions.
Reducing Barriers to Recruitment for Health Care Assistants
Paid Sick Leave in Seniors’ Care & Living
The COVID-19 Presumptive Clause: What Care Providers Need to Know
Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations for Seniors Living and Care Staff
Screening for COVID-19: Using Rapid Tests in Continuing Care Settings
Technology Solutions for the Health Human Resource Crisis
You Don’t Need to Do it Alone: Supporting Families Through Grief and Loss
