ELDAC Linkages Program supports streamlined palliative care
A guest blog post by Joanne Johanson, Registered Nurse, IAWA Home Care.
The Italian Australian Welfare Association (IAWA) manages and delivers Home Care Packages in the Granite Belt. It is a local community-based, not-for-profit organisation, overseen by a committee. IAWA provides home care services such as nursing, personal care, social support, minor home maintenance, and gardening for older people living in their own homes.
In August of 2022, we had the privilege to provide palliative care to one of our clients in her home. It was a peaceful and beautiful journey that we took with our client and her family. However, we did identify several gaps in our ability to provide streamlined care.
To provide quality holistic care to the community, we saw participation in ELDAC as an exciting opportunity. Our Linkages Program Facilitator, Mays Windisch, has been invaluable in keeping our team motivated, providing resources and knowledge. Through the completion of the ELDAC action plan, we identified three goals:
Education: The initial goal that we identified was to increase workforce capacity by having 80% of clinical staff in 6 months to have increased confidence and knowledge in palliative care. This includes symptom management, communication, and development of palliative and end-of-life care planning. During our monthly staff meetings, the team has been participating in toolbox talks, guided by the toolkit videos in the Clinical Care section of the ELDAC Home Care Toolkit. All care staff have been signed up to complete the AHHA Palliative Care Online Training, which has proven to be an easy-to-use, interactive education tool. We have also compiled a palliative care education folder that collates the resources accumulated through the completion of education. In late September, care staff at IAWA will participate in a 2-day workshop through PEPA, which will be exciting for everyone to come together and learn through a palliative care approach.
Recognition of deterioration: We are proud to say that we have achieved our second goal: In the next 6 months there will be demonstrated improvement in the recognition of deterioration of health by the implementation of the SPICT for all clients who receive a home care package. This will enable well-coordinated care planning including linkages with other services. Evidence of improvement in the recognition of deterioration includes the presence of up-to-date SPICT in all home care package clients’ charts and care planning will be informed by this clinical tool. This has been achieved by staff receiving information about using and integrating the SPICT tool and all home care package clients having a SPICT commenced.
Advance care planning: The third goal we have set is: by August 2023, advance care planning is evident for all home care package clients and communicated clearly. This will include streamlining documentation (uploading all relevant documents to clients’ charts) that reflects the client’s wishes. Our confidence in communicating about advance care planning continues to evolve, particularly through the utilisation of the SPICT.
We look forward to continuing with our project with the invaluable guidance of Mays, and hope that we will achieve our goals in order to provide quality, holistic care.
Joanne Johanson
Registered Nurse, IAWA Home Care