11 2.1.4 Trauma-Informed Principles

Key Principles to Trauma Informed Care

• Transparency & Trustworthiness: Include transparency, consistency, fairness & respect to build trust
• Safety: Physical settings & interpersonal interactions
• Gender, Cultural, Historical Issues: Move beyond cultural stereotypes & biases
• Mutuality & Collaboration: Partnering to avoid power imbalances
• Peer Support: Support with lived experience of trauma and non-judgemental
• Empowerment: Build upon strengths and experiences^[1][2]

Trauma Informed Approach (TIA) in LTC

• TIA in LTC can be complicated by medical conditions that cause memory impairment & cognitive decline
• For individuals with dementia & trauma, the disease impacts their ability to protect against traumatic memories and may result in behavioural expressions or behaviours
• Using a trauma-informed approach to avoid re-traumatization
• Create a safe environment with an understanding that residents may have variable responses/behaviors to the same stimuli
• Residents will benefit from a TIA where they can feel safe, heard, supported, & empowered to heal from trauma
• Trauma Screening and Assessment for all residents
• Assess trauma history, how they experienced the event, and the impact/effect of their trauma
• Admission to LTC is sometimes inevitable & risks re- traumatizing residents
• Risk of re-traumatizing for those who have experienced trauma in other initialized settings (i.e. hospitals & schools)

Consider how we can reduce or manage the traumatization associated with LTC admissions.^[3]