• Deborah Parker, Carol Grbich, Margaret Brown, Ian Maddocks, Eileen Willis, and Penny Roe.
• Department of Palliative Care, School of Medicine, Flinders University, Australia.
• J Palliat Care. 2005 Jan 1;21(2):80-7.

AbstractThis article presents results of the second stage of a research project which explored the palliative care needs of 69 residents with a noncancer diagnosis in South Australia. Extensive data were collected prospectively from case notes, and resident and staff interviews over a 10-week period. Residents were suffering multiple conditions and were highly dependent for activities of daily living. Most residents' care was consistent with a palliative approach, with only three residents in the study referred to a specialist palliative care service. However, for some residents, pain and symptom management were not always adequate, and referral to a specialist palliative care service would have been appropriate. This research indicates that, with additional education, it could be possible to extend the principles and philosophy of palliative care by adopting a palliative care approach within aged care facilities.

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