Jun 4, 2026 · 24 min · 9 segments
In this episode of GeriEvidence, Dr. Papaioannou speaks with Linda Verlinden, a family member of a long-term care resident, and Sam Peck, CEO of Family Councils Ontario, about the essential role of…
Linda VerlindenGuest
Sam PeckGuest
Alexandra PapaioannouHostFor f- many families, the decision to move a loved one into long-term care can be both emotional and complex.
Linda, can you tell us about your experience choosing a long-term care home? What factors mattered most to you, and how did you know it was the right fit?
My brother and I knew how incredibly important it was for her to be able to maintain staying in that community until her death.
Mom had a sudden event three years ago which put her on the fast track to continuing care and a nursing home.
My brother and I tried hard for six months to manage her at home while working with community and continuing care.
That time before placement for people is such a stressful time for families, as your relationship in the hierarchy of the family morphs from child to caregiver or adult.
Someone once told me that there are no difficult families, only families in difficulty.
We wanted to have our mom secure in her daily care so that we could resume just being a family and her support, not solely her decision-makers and caregivers.
She was fortunate to be placed in the local home where she knows so many of the staff and residents.
It's a smaller facility, and since we're familiar with the staff, my brother and I had a real sense of comfort and trust.
It would've been far more challenging for us if we had to get to know a new town, a new staff, and new residents.
What I often see, hear sometimes, the stress of the family member having to make these decisions and to be no longer the child, and in that decision-making, uh, for their, their parent is often quite difficult for people to face.
And, um, sometimes, depending on the outcome, causes there to be some anxiety and stress, um, with their loved one, uh, because they're trying so hard to have a good outcome for them.
And sometimes the person that they're caring for, or their loved one, has dementia, and there's, um, you know, cognitive issues, and, and behavioral issues.
For f- many families, the decision to move a loved one into long-term care can be both emotional and complex.
Linda, can you tell us about your experience choosing a long-term care home? What factors mattered most to you, and how did you know it was the right fit?
My brother and I knew how incredibly important it was for her to be able to maintain staying in that community until her death.
Mom had a sudden event three years ago which put her on the fast track to continuing care and a nursing home.
My brother and I tried hard for six months to manage her at home while working with community and continuing care.
That time before placement for people is such a stressful time for families, as your relationship in the hierarchy of the family morphs from child to caregiver or adult.
Someone once told me that there are no difficult families, only families in difficulty.
We wanted to have our mom secure in her daily care so that we could resume just being a family and her support, not solely her decision-makers and caregivers.
She was fortunate to be placed in the local home where she knows so many of the staff and residents.
It's a smaller facility, and since we're familiar with the staff, my brother and I had a real sense of comfort and trust.
It would've been far more challenging for us if we had to get to know a new town, a new staff, and new residents.
What I often see, hear sometimes, the stress of the family member having to make these decisions and to be no longer the child, and in that decision-making, uh, for their, their parent is often quite difficult for people to face.
And, um, sometimes, depending on the outcome, causes there to be some anxiety and stress, um, with their loved one, uh, because they're trying so hard to have a good outcome for them.
And sometimes the person that they're caring for, or their loved one, has dementia, and there's, um, you know, cognitive issues, and, and behavioral issues.
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