The research paper Words describing feelings about death: A comparison of sentiment for self and others and changes over time has been published in PLOS ONE. The publication evaluated the language used by previous participants to describe their feelings about death and dying and found that altering the way we think about death, and teaching people to discuss it in a more positive way, could improve end-of-life health care.

ELDAC project coordinators have been undertaking activities for the past three years as part of the Working Together Program which involves helping provide linkages between specialist palliative and aged care providers. The program has now reached the end of its first phase. In their latest blog, the ELDAC project coordinators showcase the outcomes and achievements of the 70 aged care services who participated across Australia and how the program has supported participating aged care services through individual, service and system development.

COVID-19 has brought about many challenges to providing education for healthcare professionals. Hence, education providers have had to come up with innovative ways to deliver workshops. In this blog Steph Dickinson and Sharon Wetzig from the Palliative Care Education and Training Collaborative, Cancer and Palliative Care Outcomes Centre at QUT discusses how the Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) adapted to online formats of education and discusses the response to running workshops virtually.

Nurses spend the greatest period of time with patients at the end of life and their loved ones.

In our sixth blog for the Part of Life series, Janeane Harlum, President for Palliative Care Nurses Australia (PCNA) and Palliative Care Manager and Service Development at South Western Sydney Local Health District, talks about the fulfilling work of palliative care nurses and pointers for continuing professional development.

Nurses play a critical role in providing holistic care and support to persons at the end of life and their loved ones. 

In our fifth blog for the Part of Life series, Kate Swetenham, Nursing Director of Palliative Care Projects at SA Department for Health and Wellbeing, discuss the important work of nurses and shares her experience and some pointers.