Improving palliative care access in aged care
Managers of aged care services and facilities are being asked to participate in a new survey that aims to map the provision of palliative care and advance care planning services around Australia, in what has been described as a ‘first’ for the sector.
Dr Yvonne Luxford, Palliative Care Australia chief executive, says the new online survey aims to improve end of life care for older Australians.
The online survey, conducted by a consortium of leading national health, aged care and academic organisations, is part of a $15 million federal government project working to improve access to palliative care and advance care planning services in the aged care sector nationally.
Dr Yvonne Luxford, Palliative Care Australia (PCA) chief executive, says the survey seeks to capture the knowledge of aged care professionals, as well as GPs and specialist palliative care services, so that an accurate picture of services currently available can be obtained.
“About 60,000 people die each year in the care of residential and community aged care services, so it’s clear that palliative care and advance care planning are core business for the aged care sector,” Dr Luxford says.
“I urge all aged care providers to complete this survey, as it will help to identify gaps in service delivery that need to be targeted so those working in aged care can be better supported to improve palliative and end of life care for older Australians.”
Findings from the survey will be incorporated into a national environmental scan of the sector, with the information used to develop a suite of programs funded through the Specialist Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning Advisory Services Project.
Other initiatives include a 24 hour hotline for GPs and aged care providers to call for specialist palliative care and advance care planning advice, as well as education, training and web-based resources for health and aged care professionals to enhance their skills in palliative care and advance care planning.
The consortium appointed to implement the Advisory Services Project comprises Respecting Patient Choices, Palliative Care Australia, CareSearch, the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology, the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine, Leading Aged Services Australia (LASA), and Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA).
The Project is funded under the federal government’s Living Longer. Living Better aged care reform package, which was developed in response to recommendations made in the Productivity Commission’s Caring for Older Australians report.
Aged care professionals interested in participating in the survey can click here. The survey closes at midnight on Friday, 23 May 2014.
For more information about the survey or the Advisory Services Project, contact Palliative Care Australia on (02) 6232 4433.
