Care homes

About 17% of our elderly die in a care homes so enabling people to live well until the end of their life is important. It has also been recognised that care needs to be consistent for a person with cancer or other life limiting illness such as dementia or heart disease.

In April 2008, Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice started a project in an attempt to address this issue in the local area. Along with a colleague from the Beacon Macmillan service, we invited thirteen care homes to participate in workshops addressing palliative care issues. Topics such as advanced care planning, communication skills, symptom management and recognition of residents approaching the end of life were taught using nationally recognised tools such as the Gold Standard Framework (GSF), Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) and Preferred Priorities of Care (PPC). By using the GSF and LCP framework we can help patients and loved ones choose the care they wish to receive towards the end of life and, where they receive that care. Two champions from each care home attended each workshop and also kept a reflective practice diary to help cement all they had learned.

We have now reached the end of this initial pilot education scheme, but our Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) have continued to visit with a number of the care homes to try to encourage them to use the guidance tools and to have regular palliative care meetings identifying potential problems before they become a crisis. The CNS team also visit on an individual basis once a referral is received to support all concerned including staff.

Following the success of this pilot training scheme, we hope to roll out similar training to other care homes in the future. For more information on our care home education work, please contact the Community Team on 01252 729425 or email mail@pth.org.uk.