New research has highlighted how ‘care pathways’ can help GPs and aged care staff work together to plan ‘end of life’ care with residents and their families.

The La Trobe University study of 14 aged care homes in two states found that the use of such pathways improved care. For example, unnecessary transfers from aged-care facilities to hospitals and back again were reduced significantly - from 14 per cent down to two per cent. "If the procedures that make this possible were implemented nation-wide, it would mean a lot less stress during the final stages of people's lives, says Research Fellow, Dr Dell Horey. "They are also likely to save money by using resources better." Published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the Good Death project was a...