Blog

COVID-19 is changing the way we understand our health systems, our society and ourselves. Palliative care is now a critical part of a response to the pandemic nationally. Professor Jennifer Tieman discusses the need to provide relevant information to health professionals, aged care workers, and patients, family and carers, and how the new CareSearch COVID-19 and Palliative Care hub can support them.

Speech Pathologists not only provide services to people whose function is affected by communication or swallowing impairment. As part of our focus on Advance Care Planning Week, Wendy Pearse from Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service and Stephanie Veal from Austin Health discuss the important role of Speech Pathologists in palliative care and advance care planning.

Australia has a diverse older population and it is important for those caring for older Australians to have access to evidence-based resources to ensure quality care is delivered to all older people, regardless of their specific background and preferences. Dr Georgia Rowley, Research Associate at ELDAC discusses the importance of understanding specific considerations when caring for older diverse Australians in an end of life context, and how ELDAC can provide resources to help.

It is estimated that 11% of the older Australian population are of diverse sexualities or genders (often referred to by using the acronyms LGBT, LGBTI or LGBTQ), yet we often do not see and celebrate our diverse older people. 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 ideas for aged care services to welcome and support them.

Eleven Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across Australia are implementing the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care (GCfAHPC) measure. In the second blog in our series on GCfAHPC, Anne Harley, Integrated Health Coordinator at South Western Sydney PHN discusses their 'Peace of Mind' project and activities to raise community awareness about dementia, advance care planning and palliative care.