Ballarat Hospice Care is proud to highlight the impact of its Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care (CPCiAC) Project, an initiative designed to improve palliative care practices in residential aged care facilities across the Grampians region.
Funded by the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, and the Victorian Department of Health, the project is a collaboration between BHCI, the Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team / Grampians Health, Grampians Region Palliative Care Consortium, and Central Highlands Rural Health during the pilot phase.
The CPCiAC Project focuses on equipping aged care staff with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to deliver high-quality palliative care, emphasising early identification of palliative care needs to improve residents’ quality of life.
Through close consultation with aged care facilities in the region, the project has already achieved significant progress with aged care managers and staff, including:
- Implementing tools and processes for the systematic identification of and response to palliative care needs
- Targeted training programs to empower aged care staff to enhance knowledge and skills to provide palliative care
- Strengthening referral pathways to specialist palliative care for residents with such needs
Raising awareness for external supports - Practical tools and guidelines have been compiled to support aged care teams in managing complex palliative care scenarios
“Our goal is to make comprehensive palliative care a seamless part of everyday practice in aged care. By fostering early identification and intervention, we can ensure residents receive the care they need at the right time, improving their quality of life and supporting the staff who care for them.” Diane Nimmo, Strategic Projects and Research Manager and Project Lead, explained.
The project team has also curated resources to support aged care teams in navigating the complexities of palliative care. These efforts reflect a commitment to making tools accessible, relevant, and practical for time-pressed aged care staff.
Andrew Howard, CEO of Ballarat Hospice Care, emphasised, “This project has demonstrated the value of collaboration in addressing the unique challenges of aged care. We’re proud to be supporting aged care teams in delivering the compassionate and comprehensive care their residents deserve.”
With additional funding secured for 2024-25, the CPCiAC Project aims to broaden its reach to more facilities across the Grampians region, including Ballarat, Horsham, Ararat, Bacchus Marsh, Stawell, Warracknabeal, and beyond.
Ballarat Hospice Care invites residential aged care facilities to partner in this initiative and take advantage of the resources and support available to enhance palliative care delivery.
To find out more about the Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care Project, contact Ballarat Hospice Care at (03) 5333 1118.
Pictured above: Residential aged care staff from Mercy Place Ballarat with BHCI’s Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care Project Officer, Donna Walter.
