Resources

Emergency department visits and hospital admissions are common for people in residential aged care nearing the end of their life. This may not always be in their best interests, necessary, or in line with their preferences. This resource from ARIIA is a short easy-to-read summary of the research evidence.

Dr Priyanka Vandersman, Research Fellow, End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC), describes the ELDAC digital dashboard for tracking end-of-life care processes and indicators in aged care and explains why innovations of this kind are vital for transforming the sector.

Kristina Walsh, Flinders University, describes the Compassionate Communities initiative that is promoting a whole of community approach to the end of life where dying, death and grief are a social and collective responsibility.

Shona McQueen from Catholic Health Australia describes the work of End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC). This initiative, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, aims to improve the aged care workforce’s capacity to provide quality palliative and advance care planning.

Professor Josephine Clayton, Director of Palliative Care Research & Learning, HammondCare, describes the Advance Project Dementia Toolkit—a free online resource for clinicians, managers, and careworkers in aged care and primary care settings for building skills in initiating conversations about advance care planning and assessing the palliative care needs of people living with dementia.

In her blog, Dr Katrina Erny-Albrecht of the Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, Flinders University, introduces a range of new palliAGED Practice Tip Sheets for aged care workers, reflecting on the way these topics describe the very profound human experience of dying.

Palliative care is a fundamental component of general practice. All GPs who care for older people are engaging with issues their patients face towards the end of life.

This booklet from RePaDD supports bereavement by providing information on what is likely to happen over time from entry into aged care through to the end of life. It includes suggestions, practical resources, and supports for families.

Palliative Care and Dementia s a joint policy statement from Palliative Care Australia  and Dementia Australia advocating for improved awareness and understanding of the unique palliative care needs of people living with dementia, their families, carers and community.

This help sheet provides some information on the palliative care approaches that play a crucial role in the care of the person who is dying. It provides information about how the person with dementia can be supported to die in comfort and with dignity.