Blog

People with dementia have different care and support needs at their end of life compared to people with other life-limiting illnesses. Dr. Suzanne Lewis discusses her team's research in identifying best practice models of care for people in the advanced and end stages of dementia, and appropriate support for their families and carers.

Aged care journeys are different for everyone. For careworkers providing care to an older person, knowing when and how to help can make a world of difference. Dr. Katrina Erny-Albrecht introduces the new palliAGED training resource, ‘Aged care journeys for palliative care’, and discusses the importance of workplace training in supporting careworkers and the important work they do.

Over the last four decades, aged care services in Australia have changed from publicly funded nursing homes to privately run 'residential aged care facilities' that now cater to high care needs. Juliane Samara, a Specialist Palliative Aged Care Nurse Practitioner, emphasises the significance of having a competent workforce of aged care nurses to provide quality palliative care.

With an ageing population and high levels of migration to Australia, the Australian healthcare community must recognise individualised and cultural needs when approaching death and end-of-life care. Registered Nurse Elizabeth Lambert discusses her research into the cultural considerations for people from culturally or linguistically diverse backgrounds.

More education and training for nurses and care workers in providing palliative and end-of-life care, particularly in regional areas, is needed. Palliative Care Nurse Educator Andrea Rivers-Thompson discusses the PC-Link Nurse program, which aims to provide mentoring and training to build confidence and knowledge in delivering evidence-based care.