Better end of life choices for older Aussies
South Australian aged care provider, Helping Hand Aged Care, will develop a new way of supporting older people who need palliative care by ensuring they are given more choices.
South Australian aged care provider, Helping Hand Aged Care, will develop a new way of supporting older people who need palliative care by ensuring they are given more choices.
Helping Hand Aged Care is one of many Adelaide organisations to share in grants totalling $160,000, announced this week as part of the Decision Assist Linkages project.
Central Adelaide Local Health Network and Calvary North Adelaide Hospital join Helping Hand Aged Care in developing new ways of supporting palliative older people.
Linkages project leader, Professor Patsy Yates, from the Queensland University of Technology, says the project aim is to receive appropriate palliative care in the place they choose which is best for them and their family.
Another South Australian project that is part of the recent Decision Assist Linkages project will will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are palliative and living in an aged care facility, have access to services that are culturally appropriate.
“Northern Adelaide Medicare Local, Aboriginal Elders & Community Care Services and the SA Ambulance Service will link to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in aged care facilities have access to culturally appropriate services that allows equitable treatment,” Professor Yates says.
“It is important that they are able to stay in the facility in comfort and privacy, able to spend time with family and friends and avoid unnecessary transition to hospital,” she adds.
“Clients with complex chronic conditions often require care from a range of health service providers and this group’s Care Coordination and Outreach Service team consisting of GPs, Aboriginal health workers, Aboriginal Outreach Workers and allied health professionals will provide this.”
The project funds will support organisations in developing communication pathways, establishing agreements, developing different care approaches or establishing new or enhanced existing linkages between palliative care and aged care.
More than $1.5 million in grants was announced as part of the Decision Assist Linkages project to build better links between the providers of palliative and aged care across Australia.
Funded by the federal government, Decision Assist also includes a 24/7 telephone advisory service for health professionals, specialised workshops and a dedicated website featuring the latest information and advice about advance care planning and palliative care.
Find out more details about the successful Decision Assist grants.
