Residential Aged Care

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual (World Health Organisation).

A palliative approach is not confined to the end stages of an illness; it provides a focus on providing comfort and actively reducing symptoms and distress and all health care providers can incorporate the palliative approach into their practice (Victorian Government Department of Human Services, 2009).

The Hume Region Aged & Disability Palliative Resource Nurse can provide support to RACF staff implementing the Palliative Approach within residential aged care facilities in the Hume Region. Support is provided for education, quality improvement and supporting links with palliative care services. Their aim is to support and work together with Palliative Care Champions (or Link Nurses) in each facility to lead  palliative care based on each facilities unique needs.

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Below are some useful websites for people working in residential aged care to source evidence based palliative care resources to support quality improvement.

End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) provides a toolkit with a comprehensive step-by-step guide to implementing an evidence based palliative approach in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). It includes the elements of clinical care, education and learning, organisational support.

palliAGED is the palliative care evidence and practice information resource for the Australian aged care sector.

CareSearch is a comprehensive resource of content pages, databases and resources to support palliative care health professionals and palliative care patients, their carers, families and friends.

Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA) is a national program funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, enabling Australians to make the best choices for their future health and care.

 

For further information contact:

East Hume Aged & Disability Palliative Resource Nurse

Rose Sexton   Ph: (03) 5722 5184

West Hume Aged & Disability Palliative Resource Nurse

Samantha Moorhouse  Ph: (03) 5735 8070