Palliative care is considered a human right, however, only approximately 14% of people worldwide who need palliative care receive it[1]. Palliative care is not just about dying but is an approach that improves the quality of life of people with a life-threatening illness and their families. This includes the prevention and relief from the challenges associated with life-limiting illness through symptom management, psychological and spiritual support, and practical measures.
The Role of Health Professionals and Aged Care Workers in Palliative Care
All health care workers play a critical role in identifying people who would benefit from a palliative approach to care and ensuring that the people who choose to have palliative care receive this in their place of choice. While most Australians wish to die at home, many older people die in hospitals or aged care facilities. Therefore, it is important to identify people who would like to receive palliative care early. The Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool can be used to identify people with one or more chronic illnesses who may be at risk of dying in the next 12 months and may benefit from a palliative care approach.
There are other tools and resources available for health care providers to care for people in need of palliative care:
- Advance Care Planning: Advance care planning helps a person, their families and carers to understand their values and acceptable outcomes from health care which makes decision making clearer when the person is unable to share their preferences
- End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC): ELDAC provides resources to equip care providers to help older Australians receive high-quality end-of-life care
- HealthPathways: Palliative Care: HealthPathways is an online resource that provides health professionals in Western Sydney with easy access to localised, up-to-date, evidence-based information and resources. If you do not have access to HealthPathways, please contact our HealthPathways team at healthpathways@wentwest.com.au
- palliAGED: palliAGED apps provide GPs and nurses with easy and convenient access to information to help them care for people approaching the end of their life
- Palliative Care Education Directory (PaCE): PaCE is a free resource directory for educators and health and aged care providers via a web-based app
- palliMEDS: The palliMEDS app familiarises primary care prescribers with eight palliative care medicines for the management of terminal symptoms
- RACGP Aged Care Clinical Guide: Part A: Palliative and End-of-Life Care: This guide is developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) to provide guidance to GPs in the care of older people requiring palliative care
For further information, please contact our Palliative Care Program team at palliativecare@wentwest.com.au
Palliative care patients, their families and carers can use these resources for support:
- Care Finder: Care Finder organisations can assist vulnerable older people who would not be able to arrange services without intensive support and do not have family members or friends who can help
- CareSearch: CareSearch consolidates online palliative care information and resources available in multiple languages
- GriefLine: GriefLine’s Integrating Grief Program is a free counselling and support service to provide enhanced bereavement care for people in NSW
In recognition of National Palliative Care Week (21-27 May), we would like to acknowledge the aged care workers and health care providers who are caring for patients at the end of their lives. If you would like to support Palliative Care Australia in raising awareness, you can visit their website and download the campaign resources.
Exclusive Screening of the ‘Live the Life You Please’ Film
Our Palliative Care team has invited all health professionals, community members and families to join us online for the screening of ‘Live the Life You Please’.
‘Live the Life You Please’ is an impact film campaign that will give viewers a better insight into palliative care and the importance of providing access to excellent end-of-life care for all Australians.
At the heart of ‘Live the Life You Please’ is a series of unexpected moments of joy caught between caregivers, patients and their families. Their powerful stories will show you that palliative care is about quality of life rather than just medicine. The film emphasises the value of providing physical, social, emotional and spiritual support to patients and their loved ones.
If you are interested, please register to reserve a spot and with us at 2pm on Wednesday 24 May.
Thursday 17 May 2023
[1] World Health Organisation (2020), Palliative Care. Accessed by: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/palliative-care