Blog

People living with dementia are less likely to receive palliative care than those with other diagnoses. Dr Elissa Campbell argues traditional models of palliative care designed for people with cancer do not meet the needs of people with dementia. 

Jayne Littledike describes the program and how it aims to improve quality of life for people living with advanced dementia and their carers, whether they be in their own homes or in a residential care facility. 

Eldercare, a South Australian aged care provider, received the National Palliative Care Award for its innovative palliative care services. Their dedicated palliative care team, supported by government funding, has led to high rates of advance care planning and a significant reduction in hospital transfers, improving the overall quality of care for residents and extending their expertise to other aged care providers in South Australia.

In this blog, Natalie Govind discusses the lack of focus on end-of-life considerations in stroke cases despite a significant risk of mortality within the first month post-stroke. A call to action is made to initiate palliative care early, emphasizing the importance of communication and proactive intervention to improve the quality of life for stroke survivors and their families, challenging the prevailing uncertainty and advocating for more targeted research to enhance care strategies and outcomes in this context.

Providing end of life care can be rewarding, yet particularly challenging for nurses in intensive care as the momentum of their care is about saving lives. Professor Melissa Bloomer explores, from the perspective of ICU nurses, the sociological and cultural considerations that are important when providing respectful care after patient death.