Guidelines for a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care
Guidelines for a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care
Guidelines for a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care
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Rural and Remote<br />
Rural and remote stakeholders came from their membership of the NCISN and from exist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
networks that the Specialist Consultant <strong>for</strong> Rural and Remote had developed. The Rural and<br />
Remote stakeholders’ focus groups were conducted differently to the other focus groups due to<br />
the constra<strong>in</strong>ts of geographical distance. For these groups four teleconference meet<strong>in</strong>gs and one<br />
face-to-face meet<strong>in</strong>g were conducted. Participants represented all states and territories (with the<br />
exception of the ACT, because the ACT does not have areas that are rural or remote).<br />
Focus Groups’ Feedback<br />
The consensus from the participants at the focus groups was that they were enthusiastic about<br />
the <strong>Guidel<strong>in</strong>es</strong> development and <strong>in</strong>dicated that they were long over due. They were aware that<br />
there was great need to provide aged care teams <strong>in</strong> RACFs with better <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation about a<br />
palliative approach and were very enthusiastic about the project.<br />
Stakeholders recommended that additional issues should also be <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Guidel<strong>in</strong>es</strong>,<br />
such as the families ongo<strong>in</strong>g needs <strong>for</strong> bereavement support <strong>for</strong> after the death of the resident<br />
and the effects of a lack of cont<strong>in</strong>uity of staff <strong>in</strong>volved with resident care.<br />
Feedback Loop #2 — Work<strong>in</strong>g Party and Reference Group Members<br />
Subsequent to receiv<strong>in</strong>g all of the focus groups’ feedback, the <strong>Guidel<strong>in</strong>es</strong> were discussed and<br />
revised by the project work<strong>in</strong>g party. Additional searches of the databases (mentioned <strong>in</strong> the<br />
search strategies) <strong>for</strong> relevant <strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation on issues that were raised by stakeholders, such as<br />
staff’s bereavement care, were completed by the review work<strong>in</strong>g party to provide evaluated<br />
evidence <strong>for</strong> the project work<strong>in</strong>g party to develop further guidel<strong>in</strong>es. The <strong>Guidel<strong>in</strong>es</strong> (Revised<br />
Version #1) were <strong>for</strong>warded to the Departmental Reference Group early <strong>in</strong> December 2002.<br />
Follow<strong>in</strong>g the feedback from the Reference Group, the Work<strong>in</strong>g Party revised the <strong>Guidel<strong>in</strong>es</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
accordance with the suggestions and the evidence base to support the suggested change.<br />
Feedback Loop #3 — Stakeholders<br />
The <strong>Guidel<strong>in</strong>es</strong> were placed on the project’s website and an email was <strong>for</strong>warded to all members<br />
of the NCISN and the Reference Group to notify them that the <strong>Guidel<strong>in</strong>es</strong> (Revised Version<br />
#2) were available <strong>for</strong> them to download and provide feedback to the Work<strong>in</strong>g Party.<br />
Feedback was received from 55 stakeholders. Approximately one-third of organisations distributed<br />
the <strong>Guidel<strong>in</strong>es</strong> to key personnel and provided them with a pro<strong>for</strong>ma on which to respond. These<br />
responses were collated by the organisation and then <strong>for</strong>warded to the Work<strong>in</strong>g Party.<br />
NCISN Feedback<br />
Feedback that was received was supportive of the revisions that had taken place. Additional<br />
issues that were considered relevant <strong>for</strong> <strong>in</strong>clusion were complementary therapies, clearer<br />
dist<strong>in</strong>ction between depression, delirium and dementia, and more work on advanced dementia<br />
and the physical symptoms (of advanced dementia).<br />
All the feedback received was collated onto a spreadsheet, which was <strong>for</strong>warded to the Work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Party so they could consider the feedback and provide comment as to whether they agreed<br />
<strong>Guidel<strong>in</strong>es</strong> <strong>for</strong> a <strong>Palliative</strong> <strong>Approach</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Residential</strong> <strong>Aged</strong> <strong>Care</strong> 31