New resource aims to avoid unnecessary hospitalisations at end of life
A new website provides aged care workers with information, guidance and practical resources to support palliative care and advance planning for older people and their families.

A new website provides aged care workers with information, guidance and practical resources to support palliative care and advance planning for older people and their families.
The End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) website, which was launched last Friday, includes five interactive toolkits for workers that provide up-to-date clinical evidence, learning opportunities and organisational tools.
ELDAC is a $15 million project funded by the Federal Department of Health to support workers in residential aged care, home care, general practice, primary health networks, palliative care services and allied health (read our previous coverage here).
The ELDAC consortium led by the Queensland University of Technology, Flinders University and the University of Technology Sydney includes aged care peaks Aged and Community Services Australia, Leading Age Services Australia and Catholic Health Australia, Palliative Care Australia and Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association.
Project lead and QUT Professor Patsy Yates said ELDAC aimed to reduce avoidable hospital admissions, shorten hospital stays and improve quality of care of aged residents and home care clients.

“ELDAC is designed to increase understanding and awareness of advance care planning and specialist care in aged care, and to connect the various services so they could work together to improve palliative care,” Professor Yates said.
“It will equip care providers to give high-quality, end-of-life care in familiar surroundings with little or no need for hospitalisation.”
She said ELDAC built on rather than duplicated existing sector resources and expertise including palliAGED and Advance Care Planning Australia.
“ELDAC will create partnerships opportunities and activities, where providers are encouraged to work collaboratively to provide a coordinated service to older Australians,” Professor Yates said.
Project co-lead University of Technology Sydney Professor Deb Parker said the interactive toolkits been built and reviewed by aged and palliative care experts.
“The five interactive toolkits help users to develop a plan and follow evidence-based recommendations or practices in aged care, home care, primary care, partnerships as well as legal and policy areas,” Professor Parker said.
ACSA CEO Pat Sparrow welcomed ELDAC’s important work to develop practical support for end of life services.
“These toolkits represent a practical and meaningful use of the insights into palliative care gathered through extensive consultation with professionals at the front-line of palliative care services, including aged care providers.”
A digital dashboard for aged care workers to use in supporting older people at the end of life is among new features planned for later this year.
Access the resource here.
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