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Unlocking taboos
Research project aims to get people talking about
death and dying to improve end of life care.
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esearchers at the Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration
are investigating how well Australians communicate about
end of life care, and are seeking participants for the project.
The project will also identify the care services provided to
residents during the last six months of their lives. Researchers are
calling on older people and families to take part by sharing their
stories to help eliminate the taboo surrounding death and dying.
Researcher Sue Williams said end of life care – what it involves
and what people want – varied greatly and was an important
subject to discuss.
“These conversations are difficult but it is important for people
to tell others what preferences they have for their end of life care,
to know what support is available, and to let doctors and care
staff know these preferences,” she said.
“The MARC project was initiated because it was clear that
end of life preferences and treatment decisions, medical or
otherwise, were not being communicated well.
“End of life care may involve multiple services across different
settings. If care is not well integrated, and involves duplications,
gaps and delays, people and their families can feel distress
and frustration.
“The study will help MARC to understand specific gaps and
areas of concern to assist in developing ways to improve the care
provided.”
According to MARC, in Australia, 60–70 per cent of residents
want to die at home, but only 14 per cent do.
About 54 per cent of residents die in hospitals and 32 per cent
in residential aged care facilities.
A team of experts in end of life and palliative care has been
established to oversee the MARC project.
For more information or to participate, call 8387 2614 or
visit: www.nari.net.au/marc. ■
ACSA and Baptist Care join voices
Group membership set to
strengthen national advocacy.
A
CSA and Baptist Care Australia
have announced their first group
membership, which is due to start
from 1 July 2018.
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agedcareinsite.com.au
The organisations have both stressed
the importance of having a clear
national goal for the aged care sector,
and hope to work together to achieve
that end.
The group membership will
include: Baptist Care NSW/ACT;
Baptcare Vic/Tas; Carinity Qld; Baptist
Care WA, Maroba; Ashfield Baptist
Homes; Village Baxter; and Bethshan
Ministries.
Baptist Care Australia executive
director Marcia Balzer said collaboration
was particularly important during times
of reform and policy development.
“Due to the size and speed of change
in the aged care system, there is a high
volume of work and expertise required
to effectively engage and influence
decisions,” she said.
“Combining our advocacy efforts with
ACSA as the peak body for not-for-profit
aged care providers will strengthen our
national voice on the many issues that
matter most to our members and the
older Australians they care for.
“Baptist Care Australia very much
welcomes the opportunity of this group
membership arrangement with ACSA.”
ACSA chief executive Pat Sparrow said
aged care policy and advocacy would
be “strengthened considerably” with the
new agreement in place.
“We look forward to continuing to
work with those Baptist Care Australia
providers who are already members and
welcoming new members into the ACSA
network and to a long and mutually
rewarding relationship,” Sparrow said. ■