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When a patient with a life limiting illness identifies their preferred place of death to be home, it requires in-home support for both the patient and their caregivers. This includes ensuring that the caregiver has the capacity to confidently administer medication for symptom management, as the patient approaches end of life.
CHN identified that community pharmacists play an ongoing role in dispensing and delivering medication, as well as providing advice and education to patients and their caregivers on the quality use of medications. CHN commissioned Capital Chemist Wanniassa and Capital Chemist Charnwood to deliver the After-Hours Home Palliative Medicines Program. The program allowed for timely provision of palliative medicines to a patient’s home, including Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) and education to the caregivers. This increased the chance of a patient staying at home for end-of-life care. The program included palliative care education for the community pharmacist, so that they had the confidence and skills to support dying patients and their caregivers.
As part of our work with supporting at home Palliative Care within the ACT, CHN focused on supporting primary and community health care to recognise signs of deteriorating patients early to decrease the need for emergency access to these medications.
