Thread by @CroakeyNews

After a quick break, I’m back tweeting at the second concurrent session, Holistic Care. Chaired by @IlsaHampton @Pall_Care_Aus #21OPCC

@IlsaHampton @Pall_Care_Aus .@deb_rawlings from Flinders Uni Research Centre for #PalliativeCare, Death & Dying, is first up talking about the role of death Doulas. #21OPCC

@IlsaHampton @Pall_Care_Aus @deb_rawlings Background research findings about the role of Death Doula = regulated but not registered role, may be in a voluntary or paid role #21OPCC

@IlsaHampton @Pall_Care_Aus @deb_rawlings Death Doulas provide emotional, spiritual support, may perform rituals at end of life #21OPCC
They may fill a role that is unable to be performed by other healthcare professions due to resourcing/time constraints

@deb_rawlings Talking about research about Death Doulas and Dying2Learn Massive Open Online Course #21OPCC

@deb_rawlings Some results: Death Doulas see their role as similar to others (ie spiritual support can be provided by chaplains). Overlap and misunderstanding of their role #21OPCC

@deb_rawlings Benefits of the Death Doula role: pleased that the role existed, supportive role, participants see as a great addition to #palliativecare, great at normalising the dying process #21OPCC

@deb_rawlings Some concerns of the Death Doula role: not many but concerns about registration, training and motivations of people wanting to be Death Doula + financial implications - only available to people/families who can afford to pay #21OPCC

@deb_rawlings No one single Death Doula model.
Doula's may provide alternative to faith-based end-of-life care. #21OPCC

@deb_rawlings What about #palliativecare? some say it could be complementary to #palliativecare services #21OPCC

@deb_rawlings Other findings = Death Doula role needs to become more well known, public education, may help death become less medicalised.
For #palliativecare nurses, the role of death Doulas may make them wonder what they are not doing in their own role. #21OPCC

@deb_rawlings Transparency about the death doula role is required #21OPCC

Some great questions in the Chat about the role of death doulas - what training is required? Is the role part of a multidisciplinary team? etc #21OPCC

Vicki Barry is next up, talking about 'Your departure lounge' - "we all deserve the best end to life as possible" #21OPCC

'Your Departure Lounge' initiative takes on a #publichealth approach to empower and support individuals prepare their end of life. #21OPCC

As part of the departure lounge, each participant given a personal coach to support them through the process and a checklist to prioritise tasks #21OPCC

The departure lounge eases burden of end of life decision making #21OPCC

'Heidi's Have a Go - How one patient changed our way of thinking' - Jen Walsh, volunteer coordinator from Barwon Health, up next #21OPCC

Through Community #palliativecare program @BarwonHealth, the team met Heidi, a creative woman who was keen to focus on the moment and not on her disease #21OPCC

@BarwonHealth Part of success of program is the team's ability to follow the lead of the patient - they know what they want and need #21OPCC

@BarwonHealth Similar to Starlight Moments program discussed in the first paediatric #palliativecare session, the Community #PalliativeCare program is really about creating special moments for patients and their families #21OPCC

@BarwonHealth Community #PalliativeCare program @barwonhealth see about 200 patients in their community at one time. Patient and family at core #21OPCC

@BarwonHealth Heidi and her wish to make cheese inspired and motivated the Community #PalliativeCare program to start. Collaboration and communication at work! #21OPCC

@BarwonHealth Community #PalliativeCare program @BarwonHealth have worked with their community to improve death literacy, via 'Heidi's have a go,' dinner deaths and more. #21OPCC

@BarwonHealth Research about 'Heidi's have a go' can be found here (under a paywall) #21OPCC tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

@BarwonHealth A/Prof Megan Best, from Uni of Notre Dame talks about a systematic review exploring: 'Spiritual care training for healthcare professionals' #21OPCC

@BarwonHealth Many healthcare professionals feel ill-equipped to deliver spiritual care during #palliativecare discussions, largely due lack of training #21OPCC

Systematic review aimed to find 'The Content, Teaching Methods and Effectiveness of Spiritual Care Training for Healthcare Professionals' #21OPCC
Paper for your interest (Again, under paywall - less barriers to publishing #openaccess in #palliativecare?)
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33757893/

Key findings from the review = outcomes from #spiritualcare training included increased competency across intra and interpersonal spirituality, and spiritual interventions #21OPCC

Factors that facilitated #spiritualcare = inclusion of chaplains to model spiritual care, online training, organisational support #21OPCC

No gold standard has been developed in delivering #spiritualcare but short courses have been implemented and help improve confidence and competencies in #spiritualcare #21OPCC

The final presentation for the Holistic Care session is Kerrie Noonan @KezNoo, a clinical psychologist @DeathLiteracy Institute #21OPCC

@KezNoo @DeathLiteracy Kerrie is talking about 'advance care planning, funerals and palliative care: developing death literacy in older Australians' #21OPCC

@KezNoo @DeathLiteracy The work the team have done on Death Literacy is embedded in community #palliativecare programs #21OPCC

@KezNoo @DeathLiteracy Goal of the current research was to design and develop peer-led death literacy training #21OPCC

@KezNoo @DeathLiteracy 50+ Report 2020-Dignity, Respect, Choice: Planning for the final Chapter @COTAAustralia
cotansw.com.au/wp-content/upl…

@KezNoo @DeathLiteracy @COTAAustralia Findings from research indicate 92% have a will, but many hadn't talked about death with family/community #21OPCC

@KezNoo @DeathLiteracy @COTAAustralia Some more about Kerrie's work in this blog post #21OPCC @KezNoo primaryhealthtas.com.au/2020/09/learni…

Q&A #21OPCC
Q for @deb_rawlings How do you source a Death Doula?
A- Word-of-mouth common, they work in local areas, may receive referrals from health care

@deb_rawlings Q for Alison, Jen and Mel @BarwonHealth - is the book for suggestions available anywhere?
A - available in-house, but they'd be happy to share - get in touch with them :) #21OPCC

@deb_rawlings @BarwonHealth Q for Megan - Can #spiritualcare be embedded in all aspects of healthcare?
A - Anyone who has patient contact can deliver #spiritualcare. Being embedded into undergraduate curriculums also. A skill that builds over time, after time with patients #21OPCC

There is a knowledge component to death and grief literacy but the bit that we're still trying to catch up on is the action component - @KezNoo #21OPCC

That was a great, informative session #21OPCC
Key takeaways from the Holistic Care session = holistic care for end-of-life may involve death doulas, community #palliativecare, spiritual care, practical planning for end-of-life and increased death literacy

Increasing death literacy is really important and empowering for people so they can articulate their end-of-life preferences. Community and collaborations are also important in Holistic #PalliativeCare #21OPCC