Aged Care & Rehabilitation Clinical Services Plan 2007 – 2012

Aged Care & Rehabilitation Clinical Service Plan 2007 - 2012Care, and have developed programs for care in aged care facilities. The Pathways Home ResearchProject in the south west is working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, including PalliativeCare, on issues associated with end of life decision making and Advanced Care directives.Recommendation – Palliative CareDevelop improved systems for end of life care in inpatient and community/residential settings,including through Advanced Care Directives initiatives8.7 Biomedical EngineeringTo support an innovative approach to the care of patients with a disability, access to abiomedical/rehabilitation engineer is required. Biomedical engineers develop and maintaintechnology designed to help people with a disability or injury to achieve quality of life and regainnormal physical functions. This can be provided in hospital or a community-based setting. Theadvice and designs provided, cover many different fields including independent mobility, prostheticsand orthotics, specialised seating, alternative and augmentative communications or assistivetechnology. Demand is difficult to quantify as the service has not been available. As the populationages, and the number of people living in SSWAHS with a disability increases, there will be anincreased requirement for this type of service.Although SSWAHS has a well developed Biomedical Engineering service, at present this servicedoes not have the staff capacity to service patients for rehabilitation purposes. With expansion ofstaff and the provision of some specialised equipment/resources, this service could be developed toundertake this role. Further investigation would be required to determine the most appropriateservice delivery models and locations, as well as linkages to Allied Health.Recommendation – Biomedical EngineeringAs funding permits, expand the existing biomedical engineering service to develop a specialistrehabilitation role8.8 Program of Appliances for Disabled PeopleThe Program of Appliances for Disabled People (PADP) provide aids and equipment to assistpeople in the community to live independently. NSW Department of Health funds each Area HealthService for PADP. At present, governance for PADP differs across the Area. NSW Health hasundertaken an extensive review of PADP recommending a State wide structure.At present, PADP services are located throughout SSWAHS, as lodgement and collection centres.Clients may also receive direct delivery of goods and equipment from suppliers to minimise storagerequirements, improve maintenance of equipment, and assist clients who have limited mobility toreceive goods and equipment. All services report that they are unable to meet current demand foraids and equipment, including an inability to provide preventive aids (such as special footwear whichmay prevent more serious conditions developing) due to competing service demands.Recommendation – PADPParticipate in implementing the recommendations of the NSW Health PADP Review8.9 Carer Support ServicesSSWAHS operates a variety of carer support services through AC&RS, Allied Health, CommunityHealth and Mental Health. A proposal has been developed to create an Area-wide Carer SupportService, managed by Allied Health. However, this proposal will not incorporate each of the smallcarer support services operating.AC&RS offers a range of carer support services such as the Working Carers Project in the easternpart of the Area, and Dementia Carers Support Groups through the Macarthur Dementia AdvisoryService. Through the support of the Pathways Home Project, an internet site has been developed.This will assist carers to access service information.Page 66