Module 2: Direct Comprehensive Primary Care in the LTC Setting

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]


  1. LeadingAge Maryland, 2019
  2. SAMHSA, 2023
  3. HSO, 2023

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Nurse Practitioners Delivering Primary Care in the Long Term Care Setting Copyright © 2024 by Erin Ziegler, Carrie Heer and Adhiba Nilormi is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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