palliAGED updates

The following pages have been updated to include new and recently published evidence:

• Evidence Summary: Dignity and Quality of Life
• Evidence Synthesis: Dignity and Quality of Life
• Evidence Synthesis: Elder Abuse
• Evidence Synthesis: Goals of Care

Syringe drivers are small portable (usually battery-operated) devices used to administer medication in palliative care. Check out the Evidence Summary and the Practice Points around Syringe Drivers.

A new section in the Evidence Centre is a gateway to fast and reliable access to evidence to inform your clinical practice. It provides an overview of common symptoms and how to manage medications. There are links to other useful Australian resources.

Two new topics have been included in the Evidence Centre and the Practice Centre:

Advance Care Planning (ACP)

• Evidence Centre: Advance Care Planning
• Practice Centre: Advance Care Planning

Respite care

• Evidence Centre: Respite Care
• Practice centre: Respite Care

Two new topics have been included in the Evidence Centre and the Practice Centre:

Case Conferences

• Evidence Centre: Case Conferences
• Practice Centre: Case Conferences

Spiritual care

• Evidence Centre: Spiritual Care 
• Evidence Care: Spiritual Care Synthesis
• Practice centre: Spiritual Care

One new topic has been included in the Evidence Centre and the Practice Centre:

• Evidence Centre: Models of Care
• Practice Centre: Models of Care

The provision of palliative care in the context of older age needs to consider some specific issues including cognitive decline, confusion, dementia and/or communication difficulties.  As the community ages, dementia is becoming increasingly common. Check out the Evidence Summary and the Practice Points around cognitive issues.

Resilience in older adults can be defined as the ability to ‘bounce back’ and recover physical and/or psychological health in the face of adversity. Check out the Evidence Summary and the Practice Points around resilience.

The palliAGED apps provide nurses and GPs with easy and convenient access to information to help them care for people approaching the end of their life. You can also view palliAGEDgp content online and palliAGEDnurse content online.

A palliative care emergency is a sudden and life-threatening change in a person’s condition. In this scenario, handovers of care are particularly important to reduce risk of receiving inappropriate treatment. Planning ahead for possible emergencies is good practice and can improve the quality and safety of care. Check out our Evidence Summary and our practice points.