Enhancing a Palliative Approach
For more than five years, Resthaven has employed Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner (PCNP), Peter Jenkin, to support residents, clients, families and staff in advance care planning and end of life care.
‘Through Peter’s guidance, Resthaven staff have demonstrated a positive attitude to palliative care and the role they have in ensuring palliative and end of life care is provided for residents and families’, says Resthaven CEO, Richard Hearn.
‘Resthaven commissioned an evaluation of the outcomes achieved by having a specialist nurse practitioner employed in this important area, which was undertaken by the University of Western Sydney (UWS).’
‘The research results indicate improved outcomes are achieved through having a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner in an aged care setting. The three key clinical processes: Advance Care Planning, Palliative Care Case Conferences and End of Life Care Pathways, are being well utilised across Resthaven and have an extended quality of life for the majority of Resthaven residents.’
‘A reduction in unnecessary hospital transfers during the last week of life is another outcome.’
In 2017, Peter Jenkin was awarded ‘Employee of the Year’ by Aged and Community Services (ACS) SA and NT, and won the ‘Excellence in Palliative Care in an Aged Care Setting’ Award from Palliative Care Australia.
‘To further progress implementation of case conferences that support timely advance care planning, Resthaven recently appointed a Project Officer Palliative Care, Karen Gregory. Karen facilitates confidence and skills development in a palliative approach to care, including how to ask difficult questions and conducting conversations that support residents, clients and families.’