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New Education
resource to support good quality palliative care in care
homes
A new
education resource
to support
care-home staff in providing good
quality
palliative care
is launched
today by Macmillan Cancer Relief1,
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."
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. 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.
Notes
1.
Macmillan Cancer Relief helps people who are living with cancer.
In
the
UK
, over a million people are living with cancer and four in ten people
will be diagnosed with cancer during
their lifetime. These figures are
forecast to increase, and so will
the demand for our services.
2.
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'.
(30/4/04)
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