Palliative care win for Peter

South Australian aged care provider Resthaven’s palliative care nurse practitioner, Peter Jenkin, recently won the Innovation Award at the annual Palliative Care Council South Australia’s Palliative Care Awards 2013

The award recognises individuals who have demonstrated innovation and ingenuity in their contributions to the advancement of the field of palliative care.

Mr Jenkin (pictured) has contributed to the development of a palliative approach in the aged care sector for many years.

In his role as palliative care nurse practitioner, Mr Jenkin has contributed to quality end of life care in residential care facilities and those receiving community aged care packages, helping people to achieve their wish to remain in their facility or in their own home at the end of their life.  

He has been described as Australia’s first palliative care nurse practitioner employed by an aged care provider.

“I am privileged to win the innovation award for my work championing palliative care for older people and particularly the evolving nurse practitioner role.

Richard Hearn, Resthaven chief executive, said: “Resthaven appreciates this acknowledgement of Peter’s work and the role of nurse practitioner in aged care.

“It also acknowledges publicly the significant work undertaken in aged care services, both in residential and community care, to support older people who are in the end stages of life. Tremendous work is undertaken by staff and volunteers working alongside the individual’s medical practitioner and family carers, all of whom combine to provide important support at this very important stage.”