New core medicines list supports palliative care patients at home
National Palliative Care Project caring@home has released a new National Core Community Palliative Care Medicines List. The list identifies 4 medicines that clinicians can prescribe to manage symptoms for patients receiving palliative care at home.
Access to these medicines may allow patients receiving palliative care in the community to avoid unnecessary suffering and unwanted transfers to hospital.
To ensure home-based patients have access to the medicines:
- community pharmacists should stock the medicines
- prescribers should consider prescribing them where appropriate.
Resources for end-of-life planning
caring@home also provides free practical, evidence-based resources and education for health and aged care workers to help with end-of-life planning. Resources are available on the caring@home website for families and carers to help them manage end-of-life symptoms at home.
More support from caring@home
More information is available from www.caringathomeproject.com.au.
You can contact caring@home on 1300 600 007, or via caringathome@health.qld.gov.au.
More aged care news for health professionals
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As of 1 August 2024, the General Practice in Aged Care Incentive is available to eligible practices and providers. Read more about this MyMedicare incentive in the full article.
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The Community Palliative Care Resources Box contains a suite of resources that can be used by health professionals to teach carers who are supporting a dying person at home. Read more about the resources box in the full article.
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Find more resources and services for supporting older persons on our website: bsphn.org.au/community-health/commissioning/older-persons-health