This webinar, with Emily Moffatt, explores why palliative care should begin early and continue throughout the illness journey for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Through an interview with ALS Canada’s National Community Lead, the discussion examines how early palliative involvement supports symptom management, communication, advance care planning, autonomy, quality of life, and caregiver resilience.
It considers lessons from global ALS models, Canada’s Multidisciplinary Integrated Palliative Care Collaborative, the CAPACITI trial, and the HSO National Standard for Palliative Care Services. The episode also highlights the importance of collaboration among ALS clinics, primary care, home care, respiratory therapy, speech-language pathology, community organizations, and palliative care teams. Particular attention is given to equity barriers, including unequal access to clinics, equipment, home care, and culturally and linguistically appropriate support. Listeners are invited to consider the policy, education, and system changes needed to make early, coordinated, person-centred palliative care available to every Canadian affected by ALS.
Learning Outcomes:
After listening to this podcast, participants will be able to:
- Explain why early palliative care is important for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and their caregivers.
- Describe how interprofessional collaboration, national standards, and community-based supports contribute to coordinated, person-centred ALS care.
- Identify barriers to equitable palliative care and strategies for improving access across divers
