Encouraging Best Practice in Residential Aged Care

The EBPRAC project is one of eight projects funded under the second round by the Australian Department of Health and Ageing.  It is a two year project commencing December 2009.  The project aims to encourage best practice in Palliative Care in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF's) with a focus on rural communities.  The University of Wollongong's Centre for Health Service Development has been appointed as evaluator of the overall program.

Project delivery is a partnership approach, led by the Murrumbidgee General Practice Network (NSW).  Partners include:

• Mallee Division of General Practice (Vic);
• Murray Plains Division of General Practice (Vic);
• Riverland Division of General Practice (SA); and
• Mater, University of Queensland Centre for Primary Health Care Innovation (Qld).

The purpose of the project is to address the identified theory-practice gaps that exist between the Guidelines for a Palliative Approach in Residential Aged Care, and what is actually delivered within aged care homes across rural and remote communities in NSW, Victoria and South Australia.  16 Residential Aged Care Facilities are participating in the project.  Particular emphasis is placed on the following:

• a palliative approach provided in the resident's familiar surroundings if adequately skilled care is available.  This reduces the need for transfer to an acute care setting and avoids potential distress to the reident and their family/carer;
• a palliative approach is best provided through multidisciplinary, coordinated care;
• systematic implementation of advanced care planning involving communication between the resident, family and doctor increases satisfaction with the care provided; and
• developing comprehensive advanced care plans that include ongoing assessments responds to changes in the resident's health and increase satisfaction with care. 

Project activities include:

• to showcase a model of sound multi-agency governance in rural and remote health care;
• to enhance the palliative care clinical competencies within the current provider workforce servicing residential aged care facilities;
• to derive and trial a multi-professional evidence-based framework for coordinated end-of-life care;
• to demonstrate a commitment to quality improvement processes in service development; and
• to implement a multi-faceted communication strategy relevant for consortium members, providers, residents and families/carers.

The project publishes a quarterly communication newsletter for distribution to RACF staff, residents, families & carers. 

Issue 1: February 2009

Issue 2: May 2009

Further information on this project can be obtained be contacting the EBPRAC Project Cordinator, Erin Wright on 02 6953 6454.