The Caring Safely at Home Project - Queensland
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) provided funding for the Caring Safely at Home (CSAH) project. The aim of this project was to enhance the ability of lay caregivers to manage subcutaneous medications thereby assisting palliative patients access to timely symptom management in the home.
Through this funding CSAH has produced a resource and education package designed to be delivered by registered nurses and doctors to lay caregivers. The package has been evaluated as improving caregivers’ capacity and confidence to deliver subcutaneous medications - important factors for them when supporting a palliative patient at home.
The educational framework is flexible so that it can be tailored to the differing geographical environments and juristrictional requirements of individual health care services. The framework and a range of resouces can be downloaded from CareSearch, the online palliative care knowledge network for caregivers and clinicians, and includes illustrated step by step guides and videos.
A similar resource is available to support people with MND in the UK through the MND Association of England, Wales and Northern Ireland (MNDA) Just In Case Kit . Provided to the GP - the accompanying MNDA information sheet suggests a range of medications are kept in the box to alleviate symptoms such as breathlessness, choking or related panic which may occur during the course of MND. Although most people will never need to use the Kit MNDA has found that its presence in the house brings confidence and reassurance to all.
A kit of medications specifically tailored for MND clients and reflecting the British Just in Case Kit could be compiled through palliative care teams in line with the CSAH project guidelines.
We recommend referral to local specialist palliative care services early on in the disease to facilitate discussions about symptom management as the disease progresses.
Coming soon - MND Aware
Online training about MND for health and community care professionals will be available on the MNDcare website soon. During October and November the sessions will start to be uploaded. MND Aware will be officially launched mid November. For more information and an introduction to these new and innovative resources come along to the Allied Professionals Forum and International Symposium where a paper will be presented and a poster will be on display!
Hurry! - standard registration ends soon
Standard registration for The International ALS/MND Meetings and Symposium, Sydney, Hilton Hotel, 28 November to 2 December 2011 ends October 14.
Please note that places for the satellite meeting Talking about sexuality: overcoming the barriers when talking to patients on Thursday December 1, 8.30 - 10.30am are limited and very few remain available. If you are registered for the Symposium and would like to attend this workshop it is important to book now by contacting: deanna.packham@mndassociation.org.
Every Australian Counts - support the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Visit the Every Australian Counts website to see how this campaign supporting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is progressing. Action commenced on October 3 and supporters will be visiting MPs and Senators to talk about how a NDIS will improve equity, access and quality of life for people with disability.
View the video presentation by Dr Paul Brock AM on the Every Australian Counts website. Paul is Director, Learning and Development Research, Office of the Director-General, NSW Department of Education and Communities. He has lived with MND for 15 years and is a very articulate and passionate advocate for people with MND and disability support in general.
A NDIS has the potential to significantly support and empower health and community professionals to provide a more optimal level of care to people living with a disability. Your support for this campaign could make a real difference!
