Top professional development programs on palliative and end-of-life care

For staff, residents and their families, death is a confronting experience, even in aged care environments where it’s more common – and realistically, is expected. But without widespread palliative and end-of-life care training, is your workforce truly prepared to support residents at the very end?

As the demand for palliative care is set to increase by 50% over the next 12 years, it’s never too early to start investing in and developing your team to meet your residents’ palliative and end-of-life needs.

That’s why Hello Leaders is following up our look at three of the top dementia care professional development programs with another trio of training programs that can provide high-quality education, this time on palliative care and end-of-life care.

By giving your staff the resources they need to initiate advanced care planning or to look after their own wellbeing, you can build a skilled workforce that understands how to provide dignified and respectful care during the final stages of a resident’s life.

The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association’s Online Training Portal

Featuring eight modules and a variety of resources and interactive training, The Australian Healthcare and Hospital Association (AHHA) has a versatile tool in the Palliative Care Online Training Portal. 

It’s highly accessible and perfect for aged care workers or volunteers of any skill level as it focuses on non-clinical training. Staff who are new to the business can use this resource as a firm foundation for ongoing learning, or it can help care workers and nurses to better understand the role they play even if they’re not providing direct palliative care.

Key learnings 

The Palliative Care Online Training Portal takes participants through the journey of palliative care, starting off with an introduction to advance care planning and the roles that healthcare professionals play in assessing individual needs. 

From there, participants can learn more about the delivery of appropriate palliative care plans, pain management, changes in health and how to support someone through end-of-life care. 

Perhaps most importantly, self-care is also recognised and participants are taught how to monitor their own health and wellbeing. It’s a balanced professional development course that can lead to more in-depth learning in the future.

What sets it apart

As free online training, AHHA’s training portal is incredibly easy to use and accessible to all. The AHHA reported that more than 80% of its 70,000+ users felt more confident when delivering palliative care services after completing their training, so it’s worth your consideration. 

It’s a handy tool when you want to upskill staff across the board as you can also register as an organisation to monitor larger groups of workers.

Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach 

Through the Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) – or the Indigenous Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (IPEPA) – aged care professionals can access PEPA workshops or undergo placements to improve their knowledge of palliative care. 

Key learnings 

The Palliative Approach to aged care workshop explores the foundations of palliative care principles, the importance of communication between residents, staff and families, and the set-up of advance care directives. Participants will also discuss end-of-life care and any ethical considerations that may arise. 

Meanwhile, PEPA/IPEPA offers placement programs where participants can visit a specialist palliative care service host site to learn about palliative care firsthand through observation and implementation. 

Reverse PEPA placements will send a specialist to your residential aged care home so they can provide tailored knowledge suited to your needs. This benefits small or rural providers as you may need your staff to remain onsite during training.

What sets it apart 

IPEPA provides palliative care and end-of-life training specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, a relatively unique offering amongst palliative and end-of-life care courses.

The culturally-responsive workshops and mentoring are great ways to access firsthand insights into the family-centred, cultural and spiritual needs of Australia’s First Nations peoples. 

This will enable your business and staff to accommodate important cultural practices during the last stages of life, and perhaps diversify and expand your offerings to suit a wider group of people.

The Advance Project

The Advance Project’s Dementia Specific Training combines advanced care planning, palliative care and dementia care. It’s incredibly beneficial for staff who have an understanding of palliative care but are looking to increase their skillset within an aged care setting. 

The course is suitable for care workers, clinicians and managers, meaning it can be implemented at all levels so residents with dementia can benefit from a top-down approach to their care.  

Key learnings 

There is a clear focus on improving and enhancing communication between older people with dementia, their families and healthcare professionals. Participants will better understand the importance of a person-centred approach to advance care planning. They will also be able to see the signs of cognitive decline that indicate when important discussions regarding palliative care need to take place.

Clinicians and managers who take part will also be able to assess palliative care needs, providing you with additional in-house experts that can provide specialised and advanced care for people with dementia. 

What sets it apart

Dementia-specific palliative care training will benefit residents and staff who are faced with challenging conversations and decisions compounded by cognitive decline such as getting their Will in order or creating advanced care preferences.

The specialised course gives staff more confidence in their own abilities while your overall operations benefit through professional development that strengthens the knowledge of your workforce. 

Developing greater support

When you’re looking for the right professional development program, you want something that’s going to support your staff through their current stage of development. And when the field of care is as critical as palliative or end-of-life, there is always room for further education.

You can build this knowledge at all levels -from care workers to managers, residents will benefit when your workforce has capable staff from top to bottom.

If you believe we’ve missed any crucial palliative care courses or resources, let us know! 

We’ll be back next time with a look at professional development options in mental health. If you or your staff has accessed a specific program you think others could benefit from, let us know at [email protected].