Project supports palliative care at home
Bolton Clarke is working with Eastern Melbourne PHN in a project to provide community-based support to enable people with life-limiting illnesses to remain at home and prevent unnecessary hospitalisation.
The 12-month Enhanced Palliative Care at Home project supports links between generalist community nurses, specialised palliative care teams and other health care providers.
“This project is looking at ways to embed the palliative approach and support a proactive care model that promotes quality of life,” Bolton Clarke Nurse Practitioner Palliative Care Leanne Davey said.
“There are so many people who don’t access palliative care when they could and potentially miss out on additional supports that are available like specialised medical support and bereavement counselling.
“We are working to support staff, clients and carers to recognise and respond deterioration, start to have these conversations and enable connections with the services available.
“It’s really about forward planning and taking a wholistic approach to care.”
The project aims to:
- develop supportive structures and processes including education
- help staff, clients and carers recognise and plan for end of life
- strengthen relationships with and referral to specialist palliative care and general practitioners
- promote awareness and development of Advance Care Planning
Ms Davey said it was hoped that the approach would be rolled out across the organisation once the initial project is complete.
May 24-30, 2020 is National Palliative Care Week. For more information, go to https://palliativecare.org.au/national-palliative-care-week-2020
