What can my organisation do?
Review the need for education and training of volunteers willing to be part of a befriending scheme or who might support other aspects of supporting palliative care recipients.
Primary Health Networks (PHNs) should be able to provide information of local resources.
What resources are local to your organisation? Create a directory of service and support for your team to use.
Consider creating linkages with existing roles in the community to assist older people to access community services – eg. link to disability services for volunteer drivers. A Residential Activities Officer (RAO) could be the coordinator person for this linkage or your organisation may create this role.
Inclusion of pastoral care within palliative care networks is important in attending to the spiritual needs of palliative care recipients – refer to National Guidelines for Spiritual Care in Aged Care.
Creation of a lending facility for equipment such as mobility aids, hearing loops and electronic equipment eg. tablets / computers, may assist socially isolated palliative care recipients.
Consider the Compassionate Community movement.
Consider creating a hospice day care.