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The views and opinions expressed in our blog series are those of the authors and are not necessarily supported by CareSearch, Flinders University and/or the Australian Government Department of Health.
The Adelaide Primary Health Network has been meeting with stakeholders in the provision of palliative care since the commencement of their organisation in July 2015. They have always seen palliative care as a priority and have been working closely with providers through our Older People and Palliative Care Health Priority Groups. In February 2018, the Adelaide PHN was selected as a successful recipient of funds from the Commonwealth Government through the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure. Deb Lee discusses how Adelaide PHN will use these funds through the 'Enabling Choice for South Australians' project.
Online health information is available and accessible almost instantaneously; in Australia this is true for most individuals with internet connections, from any digital device. Sourcing evidence-based research and information regarding health is crucial in informing decision making, improving knowledge and skills, and guiding service choices and clinical practice for health professionals and care workers. Virtual health resources are widely used in clinical care settings; individuals routinely search online for answers to health-related queries, which may assist their ability to appropriately service others in their care. For individuals working in aged care, accessing online information facilitates timely answers to their queries or may contribute to their ongoing professional education. Health professionals and care workers are also well-positioned to refer their clients or patients to trustworthy, reputable, and up-to-date online health resources.
Providing culturally appropriate and person-centred palliative care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients can be complex. Fiona Walls from the Lowitja Institute discusses how the findings and resources developed from Managing Two Worlds Together study can help.
Are older Australians receiving the medical care that they want, and how well does their care align with their personal values and preferences? To help answer this question, Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA) is leading a pioneering research project, the National Advance Care Directive Prevalence Study 2018, the first of its kind in Australia.