Author
- Jeanette Liebelt1
- Eastern Palliative Care Association1
2016
Excerpt
Palliative care has traditionally been cancer-focused. Despite increasing research there is little
known about the role of specialist palliative care in dementia. Eastern Palliative Care (EPC),
a community based specialist palliative care provider, initiated a 12 month project looking at
the palliative care of people with a dementia diagnosis, living in Residential Aged Care in the
Eastern Melbourne Metropolitan Region.
The Dementia Project Officer partnered with Aged Care facilities by auditing the deaths of
10 residents with a diagnosis of dementia, looking at the dementia type, co-morbidities,
Advance Care Planning, hospitalizations in the last 6 months of life, cues signifying end stage
and gaps in care (both physical and psychosocial) that could have been addressed by a
referral to EPC.
The Project Officer then modelled and mentored staff in best practice palliative care, engaged
with residents and their families and identified residents that might benefit from a referral to
EPC.
known about the role of specialist palliative care in dementia. Eastern Palliative Care (EPC),
a community based specialist palliative care provider, initiated a 12 month project looking at
the palliative care of people with a dementia diagnosis, living in Residential Aged Care in the
Eastern Melbourne Metropolitan Region.
The Dementia Project Officer partnered with Aged Care facilities by auditing the deaths of
10 residents with a diagnosis of dementia, looking at the dementia type, co-morbidities,
Advance Care Planning, hospitalizations in the last 6 months of life, cues signifying end stage
and gaps in care (both physical and psychosocial) that could have been addressed by a
referral to EPC.
The Project Officer then modelled and mentored staff in best practice palliative care, engaged
with residents and their families and identified residents that might benefit from a referral to
EPC.