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“From Thread to Cloak” - Enhancing Palliative Care in Swedish Nursing Homes Through Education and Consultation Passed

Tuesday May 14, 2024 15:44 - 16:30 Poster Arena

Presenter: Camilla Ekeblom

Track: Life-limiting conditions, Posters

Poster can be found in location 30.

Background: Access to palliative care is a human right and should be offered in all healthcare settings but the distribution of palliative care in Sweden is unequal1. Patients in specialized palliative care receive better care than those in general palliative care. Younger patients receive better care than older, and individuals with cancer receive better care than those with dementia2. In Sweden, approximately 90,000 people die annually2, of which about 40% die in a nursing home (SÄBO)2,3. Almost 30% of individuals entering SÄBO in Stockholm dies within six months and more than 50% within two years4. Objective: To enhance quality of care and integrate an early palliative approach in SÄBO through palliative rounds and educational programs targeting the entire care team: Physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists. Project Description: A palliative consult team visits five SÄBO facilities every second week over 12 months for workshops and palliative rounds. A one-hour workshop is conducted with participants from the entire care team. Various aspects of palliative care are discussed in six modules: "Introduction to Palliative Care," "Symptom Relief," "Communication and Relationships," "Support for Next of Kin," "Teamwork," and "End of Life Care." The palliative rounds address patients, both in the early palliative stage and those approaching the end of life. The rounds follow a palliative checklist, closely linked to the Swedish person-centered and cohesive care pathway in palliative care. Results: The ongoing project will be evaluated by Marie Cederschiöld University. A baseline survey showed participants' self-assessed palliative care knowledge surprisingly high, averaging 7.32 out of 10. Comfort levels in discussing death with residents and relatives were 6.75 and 6.45, respectively. Several areas for improvement have been identified: The need for a specific forum for palliative issues, a language to discuss death, and a clear structure for the palliative rounds.  

Language

English

Seminar type

Poster

Conference

GCPCC

Authors

Camilla Ekeblom, Jonas Bergström, Linda Martinsson

Lecturers

Camilla Ekeblom Presenter

Capio Äldre och Mobil Vård