8 Ways the ELDAC Linkages Program is Improving Aged Care: Highlights from the 2024 Showcase
A guest blog by Toni Arndell, ELDAC National Engagement Manager
The ELDAC (End of Life Directions for Aged Care) Linkages Program hosted a Showcase in Canberra on 7 June 2024, bringing together 153 participants from aged care services and key sector representatives from across Australia. This event provided a platform to celebrate quality improvement initiatives and share insights into palliative and aged care practices.
How ELDAC Linkages helped participating services:
- Skill Building: Enhanced staff capabilities in advance care planning, recognising end of life, and responding to deterioration in aged care recipients.
- Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Fostered an integrated approach to palliative care through teamwork and collaboration across different health disciplines.
- Quality Improvement Initiatives: Supported services to identify areas for improvement, leading to sustainable changes and better quality of care.
- Overcoming Barriers: Enabled services to address and overcome challenges, resulting in considerable improvements and learnings that could be applied long-term.
- Tailored Support: Provided resources to meet the diverse needs of populations in metro, rural, and remote settings.
- Peer-to-Peer Networking: Created opportunities for services to share success stories and insights, strengthening the aged care sector's commitment to continuous improvement.
- Use of ELDAC Resources: Encouraged the use of the ELDAC Linkages Toolkit, Self-Care Room, Home Care App, and other resources to meet new aged care standards and improve service delivery.
- Workforce Upskilling: Assisted services in upskilling their workforce to provide better end-of-life care for aged care recipients.
The Showcase also featured presentations on the future of palliative care from key experts, including Distinguished Professor Patsy Yates AM, who outlined the success of the program across 93 participating services nationwide and presented key outcome data. This outcome data told a powerful story about the impact of the services work on enhanced care experiences and workforce capability.
During the Showcase, Assistant Secretary for Palliative Care and Newborn Screening, Nicole Fitzgerald, delivered an insightful presentation on the National Palliative Care Program. She outlined the Department of Health and Aged Care's support for aged care services, shedding light on the federal perspective and priorities for improving palliative care across the nation.
In the afternoon session, Professors Deborah Parker and Jennifer Tieman led an interactive discussion focused on the practical application of how existing ELDAC resources can be leveraged to meet the unique needs of diverse populations, with feedback gathered to inform the co-design of future strategies. This discussion also reinforced the importance of continuous workforce upskilling to meet the growing demand for quality palliative care in aged care settings.
Pictured L-R: Emma Giddy - Executive Manager Residential Care & Quality, Carrington Care; Toni Arndell - ELDAC National Engagement Manager; Professor Deborah Parker - ELDAC Chief Investigator UTS; Rachael King - Pastoral Care Coordinator, Carrington Care.
Participants left with renewed enthusiasm, inspired to drive further improvements in compassionate, person-centred care. The event celebrated the tremendous work being done to improve the lives of older Australians and their families, and the positive feedback from attendees reflected the pride and optimism felt throughout the day.
You can find the ELDAC Linkages Showcase Program and view videos of service presentations on our 2024 Showcase Presentations page.
Toni Arndell
ELDAC National Engagement Manager