A residential aged care end-of-life care pathway (RAC EoLCP) for Australian aged care facilities.

Source: Australian Health Review Vol. 35(3) p350-356

Follow this link for the article abstract

Date of publication: August 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: The objective of this study was to develop, implement and evaluate an end-of-life (terminal) care pathway for Australian residential aged care facilities that improves resident and health system outcomes. The residential aged care end-of-life care pathway was developed by a multidisciplinary collaboration of government and non-government professionals and incorporated best clinical management for dying residents to guide care and increase palliative care capacity of generalist staff. Results indicated that the pathway, delivered within a care framework that guides provision of palliative care, resulted in improved resident outcomes and decreased inappropriate transfers to acute care settings.

Length of publication: 7 pages

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Looking from the outside in.

Source: Nursing Standard, v. 24(47) p20-1

Follow this link for the full text article

Date: July 2010

Publication type: Article

Publication length: 2 pages

In a nutshell: This article discusses provision of palliative care to elderly people with dementia by a specialist nurse employed by the organisation Housing 21. Housing 21 provide residential care and support services to elderly people in London.

Some important notes: An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online. Follow this link to register for an Athens Password.

The NEoLCP publishes first in a series of practical guides

Title: The NEoLCP publishes first in a series of practical guides

Source: The National End of Life Care Programme

Follow this link to download the report

Date of publication: June 2010

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: Route to Success: achieving quality end of life care in care homes follows the six step end of life care pathway from initial discussion about end of life care to the care provided to the resident in his or her final days and support for the family after death. The report emphasises the importance of co-ordinated care delivered by staff who feel confident in helping their patients or service-users plan their future care.

Acknowledgements: NEoLCP

International Observatory on End of Life Care

Source: International Observatory on End of Life Care website.

Click here  to link to the website.

Publication type:  Website

In a nutshell:  The website showcases the work of the team of social scientists and clinicians at Lancaster University which collaborates internationally to provide research evidence to impact the development of hospice and palliative care.   The site is a useful source of information on current research, on programmes of study and on volunteering or grant support. 

The site currently provides details of courses available at Lancaster which may be of interest to professionals:

• New Doctorate in Palliative Care course commencing in September 2010 click here for details.
• MA in Hospice Leadership click here for details.
• Advanced Summer School course which offers an ‘advanced introduction’ to social research methods relevant to end of life care, click here for details.

Caring for Aged Dementia Care Resident Study (CADRES) of person-centred care, dementia-care mapping, and usual care in dementia: a cluster-randomised trial

Title: Caring for Aged Dementia Care Resident Study (CADRES) of person-centred care, dementia-care mapping, and usual care in dementia: a cluster-randomised trial

Author: Chenoweth L et al

Date: April 2009

Source: The Lancet Neurology, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages 317 – 325

In a nutshell: The article discusses that evidence for improved outcomes for people with dementia through provision of person-centred care and dementia-care mapping is largely observational. The authors aimed to do a large, randomised comparison of person-centred care, dementia-care mapping, and usual care. Results suggest person-centred care and dementia-care mapping both seem to reduce agitation in people with dementia in residential care.

Document length: 18 pages

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