Palliation in Community Settings

This unit specifically looks at the issues specific to palliation and clinical decision making with adults or older persons from diverse cultural groups within community settings or residential aged care with a life limiting illness. Palliative care within these settings typically occurs over a protracted period of time and involves a specialised palliative approach with terminal care. Students will develop knowledge in the assessment and clinical management of each new symptom in order to differentiate between an irreversible condition and a potentially reversible symptom that requires acute medical intervention. Issues of addressing and documenting patient and family wishes regarding interventions and care in the event of clinical decline in both mental and physical function is also explored. The unit will cover the experience of physical, social and psychological dying and the ethical and legislative issues pertinent to this specialised area.