Integrating specialist palliative care into residential care for older people: a stepped wedge trial (INSPIRED trial)

Abstract

Residential facilities for older persons (hereafter “facilities”) are increasingly involved in supporting older people at end of life; consequently, the provision of palliative care is required to improve outcomes for residents. The national palliative care strategy sets a vision which aims to (i) improve awareness and understanding, (ii) be appropriate and effective, (iii) has high quality leadership and governance and (iv) builds capacity and capability. The national palliative care standards re-assert the need for palliative care to be available to all people living with progressive or advanced disease. In 2014-2015, we developed and tested a new approach to integrating specialist palliative care into residential care to meet the objectives of the national strategy and improve the delivery of high quality appropriate care to older Australians. The study was funded by ACT Health.