scholarly journals The Roles and Responsibilities of Community Pharmacists Supporting Older People with Palliative Care Needs: A Rapid Review of the Literature

Pharmacy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 143
Author(s):  
Paul Tait ◽  
Amal Chakraborty ◽  
Jennifer Tieman
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
English Language ◽  
Community Setting ◽  
Aboriginal Health ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

Globally, the number of older people requiring appropriate and safe management of medicines is growing. This review aimed to identify the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists supporting older people living in a community setting with their palliative care needs and to synthesise key themes emerging from the data, as well as any gaps in knowledge. The literature search included Medline (Ovid), Scopus, and Cinahl (Ebsco) databases. An English language limit was applied. The search included all international articles and any date of publication. Data were synthesised utilizing a systematic text condensation technique and presented according to Theme, Domain, and Meaning Units. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Selected papers predominantly focused on care provided by the pharmacists supporting people receiving residential aged care services. Clinical review, supply of medicines, and clinical governance were identified as key pharmacist roles. Pharmacists’ communication skills, personal behavioural approach, and positive attitude emerged as supportive characteristics for effective person-centered care. Minimal, or no information, were available related to pharmacists located in general medical practices and in Aboriginal health services sector, respectively. The multifaceted role of pharmacists presents an opportunity to provide comprehensive health care for older populations at the end of their life.

Palliative care in the nursing home

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane L. Phillips ◽  
Annmarie Hosie ◽  
Patricia M. Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Older People ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Allied Health Professionals ◽  
Family Structures ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Care Outcomes ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

Internationally, ageing, technological advances, evolving patterns of disease and disability, and changes in family structures have resulted in nursing homes becoming the final residence for many frailer older people. Much of the on-site assistance with activities of daily living in nursing homes is predominately provided by an unregulated or minimally trained carer workforce with registered nurse supervision, while professional nursing and medical care is provided either by on-site or visiting doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals from external services. This chapter details the palliative care needs of older people living in nursing homes and the challenges and opportunities to deliver better end-of-life care to this population, and proposes utilizing the Chronic Care Model as a framework for delivering the elements of a palliative approach to improve care outcomes for residents and their families.

Identifying palliative care needs in residential care

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 524
Author(s):  
Thilini Liyanage ◽  
Geoffrey Mitchell ◽  
Hugh Senior
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Clinical Indicators ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy, feasibility and acceptability of the surprise question (SQ) in combination with a clinical prediction tool (Supportive and Palliative Care Indicator Tool (SPICT)) in identifying residents who have palliative care needs in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Australia. A prospective cohort study in two RACFs containing both high-level care (including dementia) and low-level care beds. Directors of Nursing screened 187 residents at risk of dying by 12 months using first the SQ, and if positive, then the SPICT. At 12-months follow-up, deaths, hospitalisations, use of palliative care services, end-of-life care and clinical indicators were recorded. The SQ had a sensitivity of 70%, a specificity of 69.6%, a positive predictive value of 40.6% and a negative predictive value of 88.7% for death. All residents identified by the SQ had at least two general indicators of deterioration, while 98.8% had at least one disease-specific indicator on the SPICT. The SPICT marginally increased the ability to identify residents in need of proactive end-of-life planning. A combination of the SQ and the SPICT is effective in predicting palliative care needs in residents of aged care facilities, and may trigger timely care planning.

How common are palliative care needs among older people who die in the emergency department?

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Beynon ◽  
B. Gomes ◽  
F. E. M. Murtagh ◽  
E. Glucksman ◽  
A. Parfitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

Improving specialist palliative care in residential care for older people: a checklist to guide practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liz Forbat ◽  
Michael Chapman ◽  
Clare Lovell ◽  
Wai-Man Liu ◽  
Nikki Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Residential Care ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Symptom Burden ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Specialist Palliative Care ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

ObjectivesPalliative care needs rounds are triage meetings that have been introduced in residential care for older adults to help identify and prioritise care for people most at risk for unplanned dying with inadequately controlled symptoms. This study sought to generate an evidence-based checklist in order to support specialist palliative care clinicians integrate care in residential nursing homes for older people.MethodsA grounded theory ethnographic study, involving non-participant observation and qualitative interviews. The study was conducted at four residential facilities for older people in one city. Observations and recordings of 15 meetings were made, and complimented by 13 interviews with staff attending the needs rounds.ResultsThe palliative care needs round checklist is presented, alongside rich description of how needs rounds are conducted. Extracts from interviews with needs rounds participants illustrate the choice of items within the checklist and their importance in supporting the evolution towards efficient and effective high-quality specialist palliative care input to the care of older people living in residential care.ConclusionsThe checklist can be used to support the integration of specialist palliative care into residential care to drive up quality care, provide staff with focused case-based education, maximise planning and reduce symptom burden for people at end of life.

How common are palliative care needs among older people who die in the emergency department?

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 491-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Beynon ◽  
B. Gomes ◽  
F. E. M. Murtagh ◽  
E. Glucksman ◽  
A. Parfitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Older People ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

scholarly journals What Is the Community Pharmacists’ Role in Supporting Older Australians with Palliative Care Needs?

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 489
Author(s):  
Paul Tait ◽  
Amal Chakraborty ◽  
Kelly Jones ◽  
Jennifer Tieman
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Community Pharmacists ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Multidisciplinary Teams ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Australian Community ◽  
Palliative Care Needs

As the population ages, the number of older populations globally requiring palliative care is rapidly growing, requiring services of multidisciplinary teams—including community pharmacists. The aim of this study is to describe the community pharmacists’ perceived role in providing services to community dwelling older Australians receiving palliative care. Utilising an eight-domain End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) care model, a national cross-sectional questionnaire was designed and undertaken online with Australian community pharmacists. Respondents were asked questions relating to socio-demographic characteristics, practice characteristics, and scope of services provided. Of the 62 pharmacists who responded to the questionnaire, 51 were included in the final data analysis and reporting. Pharmacists working in dispensing roles made up about half of the respondents, while the remainder worked in settings such as general practice, residential aged care, or providing medication review services. Pharmacists can identify patients with indicators of poor life expectancy and mostly work with older Australians daily. Dispensing and non-dispensing pharmacists offer a range of services that complement each other. Organisations caring for the aged should consider the role of the pharmacist, in caring for people with palliative care needs, along with their carers.

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