Palliative Care Provision in Residential Aged Care

Running head: HEALTHCARE ANALYTICAL ESSAY 1
HEALTH AND SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES IN AGED CARE
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HEALTHCARE ANALYTICAL ESSAY 2
PALLIATIVE CARE PROVISION IN RESIDENTAL AGED CARE
Introduction
In accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO), “palliative care is an
approach made to improve the quality of life of the patients and their families facing the
problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering
by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of their pain and other
problems such as physical, psychological and spiritual ones.” Many different terminologies are
used to describe the term across different sectors such as; “hospice” or “end-of-life” care
(Brinkman-Stoppelenburg, 2014).
This kind of care is based on some general principles which underpin its role. It ensures
the provision of aid on torment and other troublesome conditions. It affirms living and sets death
as an ordinary process which everyone has to take. It intends neither to rush nor defer the demise
of the patients under care program. It ensures the integration of the psychological and profound
patient’s healthcare parts. It offers an emotional support system to enable the residents to live
happily until their demise. It offers emotional support to allow the families of the resident to
cope with their conditions and bereavement.
Approach and application of residential aged care palliative care
The aged no longer stay at their homes, they are taken to residential programs which cater
to their needs better and purposely their health in a better way in Australia. To ensure this
program runs efficiently, the Australian government sponsors private aged consideration
administrations for older Australians whose care needs are advance and they never again stay in
their very own homes but residential. The residential programs provide services to individuals in
need of continued healthcare and nursing because of the limitations of their abilities to take daily

HEALTHCARE ANALYTICAL ESSAY 3
activities (Stewart-Archer, 2012). They get nursing, supervision or different kinds of individual
consideration required by the residents in this care program.
Aged care is described better under the “Aged Care Act 1997”, within the Quality of Care
Principles (Koren, 2010). There are specific principles which should be upheld for the approach
to be efficient and thorough. The residential aged care according to its principles ensures that
palliative care is delivered to the best and ensures that the aged live their best dignified and
comfortable life in their remaining days. This is probably because they are at a higher risk of
death than any other age bracket and under any other form of palliative care program. This
program also supports the families and the guardians during their mourning or in taking care of
their loved ones and also supports the professionals to ensure they deliver the best care to this
group.
The approach of palliative care in residential care
In order to ensure that the residential aged care gives its best quality services, some
approaches are applied to supplement everything. Some things are put into consideration to
ensure that the aged, their families and guardians, and anyone involved is protected against
impromptu situations.
The perception and evaluation of psychological and physical health and needs at the last
days of their lives (Richards et al, 2011). The palliative care ought to be perceived as a
component of the ordinary extent of routine with regards to the residential aged care, recognizing
that these facilities are home for some individuals toward the last days of their life. The care is
always focused on the family and the consumer’s condition. The needs of the residents and
services administrations are surveyed, recorded and routinely audited from time to time. The
phases of life-constraining conditions are perceived and the necessary palliative care is

HEALTHCARE ANALYTICAL ESSAY 4
approached necessarily according to palliative care needs. There is an assurance that in cases that
the wellbeing status of the consumer changes it is urgently reported to ensure that it is met. The
psychological well-being needs of patients are evaluated, reported and met including treatment
for nervousness or sadness whenever required in these facilities.
Decision making and planning involves the consumers, caregivers and the families
concerned in palliative care (Chan, Webster, & Bowers, 2016). These facilities ensure they
provide adequate education regarding the phases of the life-restricting condition and treatment
alternatives and bolstered through treatment choices if conditions change to the families,
caregivers, and consumers. Support is also given to the consumers, caregivers and the families to
create and routinely audit advance consideration plans, especially if conditions change.
Discussion is held between the consumers and the providers frequently to understand the
ramifications of treatment decisions and distinctive palliative care decisions, with their
necessities and wishes recorded (Bigby, Bowers, & Webber, 2011). They are bolstered to change
advance consideration plans or treatment choices if conditions change this is because they
comprehend their entitlement to ask for life-longevity care services. They also understand that
except if legally necessary, specialists are not obliged to start or proceed with medicines that
won't offer a sensible expectation or advantage or improve the patient's personal satisfaction. If
need be, another decision maker can be identified and involved in the discussion of the patient's
expectations and requirements.
Insurance that all the consumers get equitable and timely access to suitable facilities of
end-of-life care (Ramsey et al, 2017): Suitable palliative consideration support to consumers,
paying little attention to their financial status, geographic area, background, prognosis or
diagnosis.