Online program for palliative care launched

Researchers at Flinders University have developed palliAGED — an online program which connects health professionals and family members with evidence-based support for palliative care in aged care. The program is being managed by Flinders’ CareSearch palliative care knowledge network, which has searched the world’s research literature to find the best evidence to support care.

Launched last week in Canberra by Minister of Ageing Ken Wyatt, palliAGED provides health professionals in community and residential practices with a range of information including palliative approach frameworks, advanced care planning, case conferencing and terminal care planning. The program also helps families understand how things change as an older person moves towards death and highlights different types of relevant care.

“The evidence-based data that palliAGED will assemble, the guidance it will provide and the practical resources it will offer is immense,” said Wyatt.

“And I believe that in the years to come, the palliAGED website will prove of immense value to the range of professions across the palliative care sector — and to those they care for.”

palliAGED comprises two different apps — palliAGEDgp and palliAGEDnurse — as well as a website which will support nurses, care workers, GPs, general practice nurses, allied health professionals and support staff with evidence, tools, guidance and practice resources about palliative care for older Australians, plus information and resources for older people and their families. As explained by lead researcher Jennifer Tieman, the program seeks to ensure that evidence-based palliative-care guidance reaches the people who need it most.

“At some stage we will all die, and people should have information at hand about end-of-life and palliative care,” she said.

“This new, easy-to-access resource provides the key information to ensure our health professionals and aged-care workforce can provide quality care for older Australians as they come to the end of their life.”

Associate Professor Tieman said although palliAGED was designed for the Australian public, the information is being made available to the rest of the world, with a focus on reaching rural and remote areas. The apps are free to use and can be accessed via www.palliaged.com.au, iTunes and Google Play.

Image caption: Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt at the launch of palliAGED in Canberra.