Enhancing Aged and Palliative Care: The Role of Allied Health Professionals
A blog by Dr Olivia Farrer, ELDAC Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Accredited Practising Dietitian
As populations age, demand for aged care and palliative care is expected to surge, especially among older adults managing multiple chronic conditions and frailty, creating unpredictable health trajectories. Allied health professionals (AHPs) - like physiotherapists, dietitians, social workers, and occupational therapists - have unique skills that could greatly benefit aged care, yet research on their best practices in a palliative context remains sparse. A recent scoping review aimed to clarify what evidence exists to support allied health interventions in palliative and aged care, highlighting several critical findings and gaps in our understanding.
Key Findings: Benefits of Allied Health in Palliative Care
This review found promising evidence that allied health-led exercise programs improved essential outcomes for older adults, such as mobility, balance, and quality of life. Studies highlighted that even short-term interventions like walking programs or guided physiotherapy can significantly enhance daily functioning, reduce frailty, and support older adults' desire to remain active and independent. Sleep quality and cognitive function also saw improvements, suggesting that allied health services could play a central role in holistic palliative care approaches.
Yet, these benefits only scratch the surface of AHPs’ potential contributions. Nutrition, mental health support, and social work interventions were mentioned in a few studies but lacked robust data on their specific impacts in palliative contexts. The review underscores that allied health professionals' contributions are critical to quality palliative care but remain underrepresented in both research and practice.
Challenges in Workforce and Research
One striking finding of this review is the shortage of AHPs in aged care settings; less than 7% of Australia’s allied health workforce operates within aged or palliative care. As demand increases, this gap risks leaving older adults without essential care. The lack of detailed research on effective AHP practices also complicates efforts to secure funding and develop consistent best practices for allied health in palliative care.
Current funding models often don’t account for AHP roles, making it difficult for these professionals to receive adequate support or training in palliative care. Without clear evidence and defined roles, AHPs may struggle to advocate for dedicated time to enact their full scope of practice, leading to inconsistent and reactionary care.
Looking Forward: The Need for Investment in Research and Training
To build a more effective palliative care system for aging populations, there’s a pressing need for research that defines and measures the value of AHP interventions across disciplines. Such data could not only improve person centred outcomes but also justify enhanced resourcing for the allied health workforce in aged care. Training programs should also focus on equipping AHPs with skills specific to a palliative approach, ensuring that clinical decision making, difficult conversations, and managing risk in end of life care can be more confidently enacted.
In conclusion, the scoping review shows that allied health professionals hold significant potential in enhancing the quality of life for older adults receiving palliative care. However, a coordinated investment in research, funding, and workforce expansion is essential to realise this potential and build a palliative care model that meets the growing needs of our aging society.
This blog is based on the Scoping Review by Dr Olivia Farrer and Professor Jennifer Tieman. 2024. What Evidence Exists to Support Palliative Allied Health Practice in Aged Care: A Scoping Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Oct 3;12(19):1973. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12191973.
Dr Olivia Farrer
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, ELDAC