As a core aspect of care services in residential aged care, Eldercare has actively sought project opportunities to build high levels of clinical skills and capability that contribute to sustainable palliative care services. Two earlier palliative care projects in 2019 and 2020 achieved positive outcomes and made a sound foundation for us to further extend training, skills and resources.

The ‘Hospice in the RACF’ (residential aged care facility) project enabled Eldercare to extend our contemporary and innovative approach to providing palliative and end-of-life care by:

• Trialling an enhanced model of palliative care that is led internally by Nurse Practitioners in collaboration with GPs and external specialist palliative care services, and formalised through the introduction of regular ‘Palliative Care Needs Rounds’.
• Establishing a sustainable and replicable palliative care training program for clinical and care staff which is supported by specifically developed written and video based educational resources.
• Piloting a care assistant traineeship program.
• Introduction of grief and bereavement resources to both prepare and support family and staff as a resident approaches end of life.

The traineeship provided the opportunity for people who have not worked in aged care to obtain Certificate 3 in Individual Support (Aged Care) at no cost and gain experience “on the job” whilst being paid. The traineeship also provided the opportunity for four Eldercare Hospitality Assistants to transition to the Care Assistant role whilst being paid and combining the traineeship with their hospitality role.

Watch the video below to learn more about the positive experiences of our Care Assistant Trainees in this project: