 essential caregiver guidance for long term care facilities recognizing the critical role family members and other close outside caregivers have in the care and support of residents and recognizing how they advocate for the resident it is strongly recommended long term care ltc facilities develop a process to designate essential caregivers ec where appropriate an ec could be an individual who was previously actively engaged with the resident or is committed to providing companionship and or assistance with activities of daily living ltc facilities are not required to implement an ec program but this guidance provides recommendations for those facilities that choose to do so the goal of such a designation is to help ensure these high risk residents continue to receive individualized person centered care 