The IAPC Older Person Care Special Interest Group is established under the IAPC’s Mission to promote palliative care through education, representation and networking and thereby build capacity in palliative care at the individual and at sector level on the Island of Ireland.
Purpose: The purpose of the Group is to address the challenges in meeting the current and future needs of those requiring palliative care and end-of-life care in extended care settings and also future access to and delivery of palliative care in these settings.
Role: The role of the Group is to be: –
(a) a learning network which actively promotes the application of best practice in all aspects of older person care and palliative care through the sharing of knowledge, learning, experience, skills and practice in relation to the care of older people
(b) a source of information and data on the provision of services related to older person care on the island of Ireland
(c) an expert advisory group to the IAPC Board on key issues relating to older person care, including service provision and policy development, implementation and monitoring.
Workplan:
(i) In 2016 the group developed a Discussion Document – Palliative Care and Older Person Care; which seeks to promote the application of best practice in all aspects of older person care and palliative care through the sharing of knowledge, learning, experience, skills and practice in relation to the care of older people; and be a source of information and data on the provision of services related to older person care on the island of Ireland. Download
(ii) Submission to the Citizens Assembly 2017 – How we respond to the Challenges and Opportunities of an Ageing Population; Download
(iii) Submission to IAHPC (Joint Submission with the Irish Hospice Foundation) -Answering seven questions about the state of palliative care for older persons in Ireland – March 2018 Download
Members: Una Molloy (Chairperson), Clinical Nurse Specialist, St Francis Hospice, Dublin
Dr Kevin Connaire, Head of Education, St Francis Hospice, Dublin
Pauline Dunne, Clinical Nurse Specialist (OutReach), Meath Specialist Palliative Care
Mary Flanagan, Director of Nursing, Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, Dublin
Caroline Gourley, Clinical Nurse Manager II, Bellavilla Community Unit, Dublin
Jacqueline Holmes, Community Services Manager, Milford Care Centre, Limerick
Marie Lynch, Programme Development Manager, Irish Hospice Foundation
Eimear McCormack, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services, Dublin
Joanne McElhinney, Clinical Nurse Specialist (OutReach), Louth Specialist Palliative Care
Sarah McGrath, Director of Nursing, Strathmore Lodge Nursing Home, Kilkenny
Lisa Malone, Practice Development Facilitator, Nursing Homes Ireland
Dr Amanda Phelan, Subject Head: Older Person’s Nursing, School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health System, University College Dublin
Jennifer Richardson, Clinical Nurse Specialist (OutReach), Cavan/Monaghan Specialist Palliative Care
Resources and Information:
Project ECHO AIIHPC: Nursing Homes https://www.professionalpalliativehub.com/education/project-echo-aiihpc
Irish Hospice Foundation – Residential Care Programmes https://hospicefoundation.ie/healthcare-programmes/residential-care/
HSE National Clinical Programme for Older People https://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/clinical/natclinprog/olderpeopleprogramme/