New education resource to support good quality palliative care in care homes UK

Main Category: Palliative Care / Hospice Care
Article Date: 03 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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A new education resource to support care-home staff in providing good quality palliative care is launched today by Macmillan Cancer Relief, supported by the Department of Health.

The resource, 'Foundations in Palliative Care: A programme of facilitated learning for care-home staff', is designed for staff at all levels and covers four modules - the principles of palliative care, communication, pain and symptom management, and bereavement care.

It was originally developed by Dr Jeanne Katz, Dr Moyra Sidell, and Carol Komaromy, of The School of Health and Social Welfare at The Open University, following research funded by the DH into the type of palliative care training needed by care home staff. Macmillan has developed the programme further into a self-contained education resource.

Dame Gill Oliver, Director of Service Development, Macmillan Cancer Relief, said: 'Although many older people in the UK end their lives in care homes, staff have little opportunity for education and training in the care of dying people. This resource was developed to enable staff to improve their knowledge and understanding of palliative care, and develop specific skills in the workplace.

'It is based on the principle that dying people's wishes should be valued and respected, and they should be given excellent care. The focus of the resource is therefore the care of people dying from cancer, but its principles can and should be applied to the care of all residents.'

Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson said: 'Research has shown that care home staff need and want training to help them provide better end of life care for older people. This training pack is an excellent example of how the findings of this research have been applied in a practical way to improve services in palliative care.'

The resource has been through Macmillan's Professional Resources Quality Assurance Framework, including a rigorous peer review process. It enables care homes to address standard 11 of the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People2.

Care homes wishing to order a copy of the resource should call the Macmillan Resources Line on 01344 350 310 or order it from our Professional Resources online catalogue. One pack, plus the supporting workbooks, is available to care homes, hospices, associated educators and Macmillan postholders free of charge. Subsequent packs or requests from other organisations within the UK will cost �30 to cover print, production and postage costs.

For media information, please contact Julia Anderson, Macmillan Cancer Relief Press Office, on 020 7840 7803 (out of hours 07801 307 068) or email janderson@macmillan.org.uk

Notes to Editors

Standard 11 of the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People states: 'service users are assured that at the time of their death, staff will treat them with care, sensitivity and respect' and that 'care and comfort are given to service users who are dying, their death is handled with dignity and propriety, and their spiritual needs, rites and functions are observed.'

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