 Aged Care Project
Aged Care Project Information
Aim of Project
Develop sustainable strategies for specialist palliative care services in the Southern Metropolitan Region to support Residential Aged Care Facilities to meet the needs of residents in a palliative approach to care.
Background
The SMRPCC considers support of Aged Care Facilities (ACF) a priority and has allocated resources to a project to consider a co-ordinated approach across the region to better support ACF's in a palliative approach. In the Southern Region there are four Specialist Palliative Care Services providing support to ACF’s .
The project is further supported by State Government funding allocated to the Consortia to support Aged Care Facilities in line with Strategic direction 3: Working together to ensure people die in their place of choice Strengthening palliative care; Policy and strategic directions 2011-2015 Implementation strategy
Advisory Group
An Advisory Committee has been established consisting of key stakeholders from Aged Care Facility Providers (Public and Private, Peak Bodies and Specialist Palliative Care Providers.
The aim of the advisory group is to provide direction and oversight of the project and to inform stakeholder groups of its progress.
Project Worker
Robyn Allan has worked in Palliative Care for over 20 years in a variety of settings and roles. Over the last few years the main focus of her work, and her passion, has been Aged Care and Palliative Care. Robyn was one of the facilitators providing workshops across Victoria introducing ‘Guidelines for a Palliative Approach’ and has continued to provide extensive education to staff working in Aged Care in a Palliative Approach.
Robyn Allan's contact details are: email. rallan@sepc.org.au tel. 0409 139 371
The Model
The Palliative Approach Toolkit was developed by the QUT/Blue Cross Research and Development Unit through DOHA funding under the Evidence Based Practice in RAC round of funding. The toolkit aligns with current evidence based material and provides a framework for implementation of a palliative approach in RAC. (See link below to Deb Parker's presentation)
The key to success for implementation is identifying and training Aged Care Link Nurses who have a role of influencing and driving change within RACFs, alongside supportive Management, to imbed processes that support a palliative approach to care.
Following extensive consultation with ACFs, SPCSs and other Stakeholders across the region it was proposed that training, aligned with the Toolkit, be delivered to staff from ACFs. This 'train the trainer' model equips ACFs with the knowledge and resources to implement processes that support a palliative approach. These processes can be tailored to the needs of the ACF.
Expressions of Interest were invited and subsequently in collaboration with QUT/Brisbane South Palliative Care Services Managers and Link Nurses from 23 facilities attended 'train the trainer' workshops in September and October 2012.
Sustainability
- Specialist Palliative Care Nurses from each of the services have been identifies as 'Link Nurse Supports'
- A Link Nurse Network will be established to share ideas and resources across ACFs
- Link Nurse Meetings are planned 2-3 times per year to provide further opportunity for networking
- Ongoing training is planned for facilities across the Southern Region who didn't participate in the first round and expressions of interest are invited for 2013
Other Initiatives
- A bi-monthly Newsletter will continue to be distributed to all ACFs
- A training Calendar is proposed providing information about education available for Aged Care Staff around Palliative Care
- A Stakeholders 'mapping' directory is currently being developed identifying services across the region available to support residents and aged care staff, referral criteria and processes
- This website will continue to post relevant links, resources and information
Associate Professor Deborah Parker
Newsletters
SMR Consortium Newsletter
Please click on the following links to view SMR Consortium Residential Aged Care Newsletters
VEC ENews
Education
Guide to Services for People with Dementia and Their Carers
The Ageing and Aged Care Branch, Department of Health has developed A guide to services for people with dementia and their carers. This initiative was in collaboration with RDNS and a wide range of program managers and practitioners. It is a companion document to Strengthening assessment and care planning: dementia practice guidelines for HACC assessment services.
The Guide will be available on the HACC website
NEW! Caresearch Residential Aged Care Hub
Staff and residents now have access to high quality online palliative care information to support end-of-life care in residential aged care facilities.
CareSearch, the trustworthy palliative care website that hosts the Nurses Hub and GP Hub, is excited to announce the launch of the brand new Residential Aged Care Hub!
The new RAC[HUB] is specifically designed to meet the end-of-life information needs of those working and living in residential aged care, and was launched on Friday 12th October by Australia’s Ambassador for Ageing, Noeline Brown, with a short statement from the Hon Mark Butler, MP, Federal Minister for Ageing.
The launch of the RAC[HUB] was part of the international activities celebrating World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. The theme for 2012 is “Living to the end: Palliative care for an ageing population”.
The new RAC[HUB] is available now here and is free to use, 24/7.
Read the latest Caresearch Newsletter
Events
| WHAT: | Palliative Care in Aged Care Special Interest Group Workshop Deliriem in the Aged Care Setting |
| WHEN: | 29 May, 2013 |
| FURTHER INFORMATION: | Aged Care Special Interest Group |
| WHAT: | Health professional and community education programs |
| WHEN: | 2013 |
| FURTHER INFORMATION: | Alzheimer’s Australia |
Resources
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