$1-Million Grant to Advance Trauma-Informed Care in Long-Term Care
Dr. Kimberly Ritchie in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing receives funding from Canadian Institutes for Health Research to support multi-year research project
Trauma-informed care practices will be introduced into long-term care homes through a $1-million research project led by Dr. Kimberly Ritchie, an assistant professor in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing, whose research is focused on trauma and dementia.
“We know from research by Dr. Ritchie that the need for trauma-informed approaches is pressing, with nearly two-thirds of Canadian adults reporting at least one potentially traumatic event in their lives,” says Dr. Holger Hintelmann, vice-president of Research and Innovation at Trent. “This is valuable funding for a critical project that could inform innovations in care for our aging populations.”
Prof. Ritchie will lead a four-year project with colleagues from McMaster University to co-design, implement, and evaluate a trauma-informed care framework. This work is part of the Canadian Consortium on Neurodegeneration in Aging and is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, in particular its Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research initiative, as well as the Azrieli Foundation, Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence, Brain Canada Foundation, and SPOR.
Trauma-informed care emphasizes understanding the lasting impact of trauma, creating safe and inclusive environments, and equipping staff with tools to recognize triggers, de-escalate distress, and build trust with residents.
“Research shows a two-way relationship between PTSD and dementia, making transitions into institutional settings especially difficult,” says Prof. Ritchie. “For many residents, long-term care environments can unintentionally trigger trauma memories, leading to distress and behavioural symptoms. Embedding a trauma-informed approach means safer, more inclusive and supportive environments for both residents and staff.”
The project will also focus on supporting care staff, who often face high levels of stress and burnout. The framework will be piloted in one home, refined, then tested through a national trial in four long-term care homes.
“Our ultimate goal is to scale this framework across Canada,” adds Prof. Ritchie. “By recognizing the lasting effects of trauma, we can improve residents’ quality of life, support staff well-being, and transform the culture of long-term care.”
Learn more about the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing and the Trent Centre for Aging and Society.
About Trent University
One of Canada's top universities, Trent University was founded on the ideal of interactive learning that's personal, purposeful and transformative. Consistently recognized nationally for leadership in teaching, research and student satisfaction, Trent attracts excellent students from across the country and around the world. Here, undergraduate and graduate students connect and collaborate with faculty, staff and their peers through diverse communities that span residential colleges, classrooms, disciplines, hands-on research, co-curricular and community-based activities. Across all disciplines, Trent brings critical, integrative thinking to life every day. Today, Trent's unique approach to personal development through supportive, collaborative community engagement is in more demand than ever. Students lead the way by co-creating experiences rooted in dialogue, diverse perspectives and collaboration. In a learning environment that builds life-long passion for inclusion, leadership and social change, Trent's students, alumni, faculty and staff are engaged global citizens who are catalysts in developing sustainable solutions to complex issues. Trent's Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto, while Trent University Durham Greater Toronto Area, delivers a distinct mix of programming in the east GTA.