PALL8436 Palliative Care and Ageing

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Overview

This topic addresses particular palliative clinical issues and clinical decision making for older people with a life limiting illness within residential aged care facilities and community settings. Palliative care in these settings typically occurs over a protracted period and involves 3 discreet forms; a palliative approach, specialised palliative care and terminal care. Rather than the inexorable decline characteristic of a person in the palliative phase of many malignancies, physical deterioration in aging typically occurs intermittently and from multiple non-malignant conditions. A crucial skill is the assessment and clinical management of each new symptom & differentiating between the irreversible progress of an already diagnosed medical condition and a potentially reversible symptom requiring acute intervention. Unique aspects of pharmacokinetics within the aging population are also explored. Issues of addressing and documenting patient wishes regarding interventions and care in the event of further deterioration in mental and physical function is introduced. Also explored is the experience of physical, social and psychological dying. Introduction to the ethical and legislative issues pertinent to this area of practice.

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Tuition pattern

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Aims

This topic aims to broaden student knowledge and understanding of the palliative care needs of older people across a variety of care settings.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:

Describe the philosophy and practice of palliative care for older people in a variety of settings

Compare and contrast the common dying trajectories of older people with a life limiting illness and differentiate between the decline in malignant and non-malignant conditions

Identify strategies for assessing when a palliative approach, specialist palliative care, supportive care is appropriate and articulate how are these decisions are made

Distinguish between the concepts of social, psychological and biological death and describe their application to patients and caregivers

Review the concept of advance directives and their relevance to local legislative frameworks, interpreting the implications of these for practice

Identify and discuss issues of advanced care planning for older people, particularly those with cognitive impairment and describe the complexity of decision making in the absence of an advanced directive

Describe the unique clinical aspects involved in the palliative care of older people

Discuss the implications of loss and grief on families, carers and staff within this population of older people

Assessments

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Requisites information

Pre-requisites:

1 ^ PALL8432 - Introduction to the Study of Palliative Care
2 Admission into GCPC-Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care
2a Admission into GCPCAC-Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care in Aged Care
2b Admission into GDPPC-Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care
2c Admission into MPC-Master of Palliative Care
2d Admission into MPCAC-Master of Palliative Care in Aged Care
2e Admission into GDPAG-Graduate Diploma in Applied Gerontology
2f Admission into MAG-Master of Applied Gerontology
2g Admission into GCAG-Graduate Certificate in Applied Gerontology
3 Admission into GCPHCAG-Graduate Certificate in Primary Health Care (Aged Care Nursing)
3a Admission into GCPHCNG-Graduate Certificate in Primary Health Care (Nursing)
3b Admission into GDPNGAG-Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Aged Care)
3c Admission into GDPNGPH-Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Primary Health Care)
3d Admission into MNGAG-Master of Nursing (Aged Care)
3e Admission into MNGPH-Master of Nursing (Primary Health Care)
3f Admission into MNG/CR-Master of Nursing (Coursework and Research)
3g Admission into GCACNGMH-Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing (Mental Health)
3h Admission into GDPNGMH-Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Mental Health)
3i Admission into MNGMH-Master of Nursing (Mental Health)

Must Satisfy: ((1 and (2 or 2a or 2b or 2c or 2d or 2e or 2f or 2g)) or ((3 or 3a or 3b or 3c or 3d or 3e or 3f or 3g or 3h or 3i)))

^ = may be enrolled concurrently

Assumed knowledge

Familiarity in the use of literature and accessing relevant data bases including OVID Medline, CINAHL, Pubmed- and others as appropriate.

Handbook

Palliative Care and Ageing

PALL8436

4.5 Units