A five-year continuous learning programme to support and empower nursing home staff in the delivery of palliative, end of life and bereavement care, has been developed by Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF), in partnership with All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) and the HSE.
CARU (Supporting Care & Compassion at End of Life in Nursing Homes) has been shaped by a spirit of compassion for people in care, underpinned by expertise, experience and research, to support and empower nursing homes.
Siobhan Murphy, IHF’s Director of Healthcare, said that every year over 23% of deaths occur in nursing homes. “We want to ensure that all staff in nursing homes are equipped and empowered to make decisions and have the difficult conversations around such times. At IHF we will oversee the implementation of this new programme with nine regional leads recruited to deliver our quality improvement workshops, organise regional networking events and support nursing home staff and owners at local level.”
The programme will be rolled out to all nursing home staff members, at all levels, free of charge. Its aim is to enhance staff skills in palliative, end of life and bereavement care and support their health and wellbeing through peer support and reflective practice.
Karen Charnley, AIIHPC Director, said that they’re delighted to be a partner in this educational programme for nursing homes. “We look forward to rolling out our webinars and Project ECHO knowledge networks to support our colleagues in nursing homes in their important role in caring for residents and their families.”
