Dear family council member,
You are invited to participate in a research study conducted by Caitlin McArthur, MScPT and PhD
student, under the supervision of Dr. Lora Giangregorio in the department of Kinesiology at the
University of Waterloo. We want input from key stakeholders on how to maintain and improve the
quality of rehabilitative care for residents in long-term care, and how to guide team members on adapting
to the changes in funding put in place in August 2013. We also want to characterize rehabilitation services
in long-term care homes prior to the changes. We want to know what recommendations you have to
improve care so that we can generate recommendations for the future. You have been identified as an
important part of the health care team, and we value your perspective. You will have the opportunity to
provide your opinion on ways to improve the system.
The survey you have received is part of a research project being completed at the University of Waterloo,
and is a compliment to the work being done by the Special Rehab Task Force. The goal is to inform
policy and clinical practice for rehabilitation services in long-term care moving forward. We are
surveying professionals and healthcare professionals who work in long-term care such as administrators
of long-term care facilities, designated physiotherapy providers, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational
therapists, nursing rehab leads and life enrichment staff, as well as residents and their families. We will
use the Delphi process to build consensus in this area where multiple rounds of surveys are completed and
you are asked whether you agree or disagree with recommendation statements. After completing this
survey, you may be asked for your input in further rounds.
The survey has 10 questions, and should take 5-10 minutes to complete. The questions include multiple
choice and open text box questions and will ask you about your opinion about the goals and priorities of
rehabilitation in long-term care.
To complete and return the survey you have two options:
1. Print the PDF version of the survey, complete the questions on the paper and return it by fax to Lora
Giangregorio, 519-885-0470. We ask that if you are returning the survey by fax that you call (519-8884567 ext. 33779) or email (cmcarthu@uwaterloo.ca) the investigators first so that we ensure that we
receive the fax directly.
2. Click on the following link and complete the survey
online, http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/uwaterloobonelab/copy-rehabilitation-in-ltc-resident-council/
Your participation in this survey is VOLUNTARY. You may withdraw from the study at any time. If you
do not wish to answer a question you can leave it blank. Participation will not be anonymous as your
email address will be retained and you may be contacted for follow-up surveys in the Delphi process.
Your responses however will not be identified. All responses and data will be coded and de-identified.
Only the research team will be able to link your identity to your answers. All of the data will be
summarized and no individual could be identified from these summarized results. The data will be stored
on Canadian FluidSurveys servers as well as on secured computers and in locked file cabinets, within a
secure area, only available to team members at the University of Waterloo. The fax machine for returned
surveys is in a locked area at the University of Waterloo, which is only accessed by two administrative
assistants and faxes will be delivered directly to Lora Giangregorio. The data will be stored for 7 years in
accordance with University of Waterloo policy 8 (https://uwaterloo.ca/secretariat/policies-proceduresguidelines/policy-8).
The Office of Research Ethics at the University of Waterloo has approved this survey. If you have any
questions, please contact me (Caitlin McArthur) at 1-519-888-4567 ext. 38779
or cmcarthu@uwaterloo.ca. Should you have comments or concerns resulting from your participation in
this survey, please contact the Director in the Office of Research Ethics at 1-519-888-4567 ext. 36005.
By clicking on the survey link or returning the survey via fax you consent to participate.
Thank you for considering participation in this survey.
Sincerely,
Caitlin McArthur, PhD Student, Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo
Lora Giangregorio, Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo
Paula Neves, Director of Health Planning and Research, Ontario Long-term Care Association