Most Australian palliative care patients prefer to be cared for at home and the majority want to die at home, though less than 10 per cent achieve that wish.
caring@home aims to improve the quality of palliative care service delivery across Australia by providing resources that will support people to be cared for and to die at home, if that is their choice.
The national project is funded by the Australian Government, and has produced resources for health care professionals (GPs, nurse practitioners, registered nurses and pharmacists), community service providers, and carers to support carers to help manage breakthrough symptoms safely in community-based palliative care patients using subcutaneous medicines.
The resources are applicable in all jurisdictions across Australia and can be ordered or downloaded from the caring@home website.
Resources include:
- palliMEDS app – to familiarise prescribers with eight palliative care medicines endorsed by the Australian & New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine (ANZSPM) for management of terminal symptoms
- State and Territory-specific guidelines for the safe handling of medicines in the community
- Updated education resources for carers, including translation of select resources into five most commonly spoken languages
- Education for medical professionals, including online modules
caring@home is a three-year project being conducted by a consortium led by Brisbane South Palliative Care Collaborative.
Disclaimer: This article was provided by caring@home. While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network does not warrant or represent the accuracy, currency and completeness of any information or material included within.
