March 2020 news

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This month:

Aged Care Standard 5: Organisation's Service Environment
Now available to order: Print copies of palliAGED Practice Tip Sheets
New CareSearch white paper: Allied Health in Australia
and its Role in Palliative Care

palliAGED Updates

Senior male talking with senior female in a wheelchair out in the garden

In Focus: Aged Care Standard 5 - Organisation's Service Environment

Older people need to feel safe and comfortable where they live. Residential aged care services provide the environment in which many older people live and spend the last period of their life. This InFocus article highlights Aged Care Standard 5: Organisation’s Service Environment, and the palliAGED resources that can help you and your aged care organisation.

palliAGED Practice Tip Sheets

Due to high demand from the aged care sector, we have reprinted copies of our Practice Tip Sheets for Careworkers and Nurses. You can order free print copies now. For those needing digital copies, the Practice Tip Sheets, along with the Practice Forms, are also available for download and can be used together to further support you and your organisation in caring for older persons.

Order now

New white paper: Allied Health in Australia
and its Role in Palliative Care

Allied Health (AH) is expected to play an increasing role in aged care and primary care settings in meeting the personal and clinical needs of older Australians approaching the end of their life. AH is a key part of palliative care provision but evidence about their role and practice is still emerging.

As part of the CareSearch Engagement Project, a background paper on the context of AH practice in Australia was produced for use by professionals, services, and AH organisations. Key findings of this white paper include the need to support AH with education and upskilling in palliative care, funding to support their work in palliative care, and more accurate data on the use of AH services.

Latest Evidence

Bauer M et al. Organisational enablers and barriers to the recognition of sexuality in aged care: A systematic review. Journal of nursing management. 2019;27(4):858-68.
How can residential aged care staff and organisations support sexuality and sexual health of their residents? This article reviewed the organisational characteristics and practices that promote or inhibit the recognition of sexuality in the care of older people in aged care settings. A number of recommendations are made including actions related to staff attitudes and the physical environment.

Chenoweth L et al. Effects of person-centered care at the organisational-level for people with dementia. A systematic review. PLOS ONE. 2019;14(2):e0212686.
Does your organisation provide person-centred care (PCC) for people with dementia? This review explored PCC interventions delivered at the organisational level for people living with dementia.The aim was to see how effective they were in relation to quality of life, mood, neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g. agitation, depression) and function. A whole team approach showed the most promise.

Collingridge Moore et al. Strategies for the implementation of palliative care education and organizational interventions in long-term care facilities: A scoping review. Palliative Medicine. 2020:269216319893635.
How can palliative care interventions meet the needs of residents and staff? This review explored the strategies used to support palliative care interventions in RAC and the facilitators and barriers to their implementation. They found that strong leadership and the involvement of people from outside of the organisation helps to facilitate practice improvement.

Read our summaries of the latest evidence

Palliative Perspectives Blogs for Aged Care

Where is the older LGBT community?

Claire Allen, National Program Manager of Pride of Health + Wellbeing discusses why older Australians who identify as LGBT are not a visible part of the community and suggests ways for aged care services to welcome and support them.

Senior lady standing against a brick wall

Appreciating diversity at end of life

Georgia Rowley, Research Associate at ELDAC discusses the importance of understanding specific considerations when caring for older diverse Australians in end of life, and how ELDAC can provide resources to help.

Know the signs of dying; talk with the family, carers, nurses and management to ensure you and others are aware of any new goals of care; Report to nursing/supervisory staff any changes you notice in the person or requests made by the older person.

Continuity of Care

Continuity of care helps care providers to be aware of a person’s preferences and care needs, and with the smooth coordination of care. It also helps care providers to have the information they need so that the person’s choices are respected. Our Practice Tips offers some pointers for careworkers.

Download now (351kb pdf)

Practical Points for Nurses

Nurse talking with a senior male and female

Advance care planning

Advance care planning can improve end-of-life care in line with a person’s wishes. However, not all adults have an advance care plan or advance care directive (ACD) and may not have even discussed their wishes or preferences with those close to them. palliAGED has some resources for you and your organisation.

Terminal restlessness

Terminal restlessness is one of the common symptoms at the end of life. Our Symptoms and Medicines section provides prescribing guidance and approaches to managing terminal restlessness.

Psychotropic medications used in Australia
- information for aged care

To assist understanding and use of psychotropic medications in the aged care sector the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission has worked with University of Tasmania’s Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre to develop a short reference resource. The booklet can be downloaded in the Commission's website.

Department of Health Palliative Care Workforce Survey

The Department of Health is inviting all aged care providers to participate in a survey that will support the analysis of Australia’s palliative care workforce and guide future planning for services. Closing date is on 13 March 2020. Visit the Department's website to find more information and participate.

National Advance Care Planning Week 2020

Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA) is encouraging interested parties to host an event for National Advance Care Planning Week which will be held 23 – 27 March. More information can be found in the ACPA website.

This month:

palliAGED Updates