A palliative approach or specialist palliative care? What happens in aged care facilities for residents with a noncancer diagnosis?
This article presents results of the second stage of a research project which explored the palliative care needs of 69 residents with a noncancer diagnosis in South Australia. Extensive data were collected prospectively from case notes, and resident and staff interviews over a 10-week period. Residents were suffering multiple conditions and were highly dependent for activities of daily living. Most residents' care was consistent with a palliative approach, with only three residents in the study referred to a specialist palliative care service. However, for some residents, pain and symptom management were not always adequate, and referral to a specialist palliative care service would have been appropriate. This research indicates that, with additional education, it could be possible to extend the principles and philosophy of palliative care by adopting a palliative care approach within aged care facilities.
Parker
Deborah
D
Department of Palliative Care, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Australia.
Grbich
Carol
C
Brown
Margaret
M
Maddocks
Ian
I
Willis
Eileen
E
Roe
Penny
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006694:Holistic Health; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013021:South Australia; D013038:Specialization