As Australia’s aged care sector adapts to ongoing reform and increasing community expectations, digital technologies are emerging as a potential support in improving the quality and coordination of palliative and end of life care. Research in this area is exploring how digital tools and systems can assist aged care providers to respond to new requirements and improve outcomes for older people receiving care.
Dr Priyanka Vandersman, a Senior Research Fellow at the Flinders University Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, is contributing to this work through her role in the End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) project. Her research focuses on the design and use of digital solutions that help aged care services plan and deliver care that aligns with the needs of people at the end of life.
The ELDAC project is a national initiative that provides practical tools and information for aged care workers, with the aim of strengthening the delivery of palliative and end of life care. The project has developed a range of digital tools to support the aged care workforce and services in building their capability to provide high quality end of life care.
Dr Vandersman explains that the current policy environment has created both opportunities and challenges for aged care providers.
“The new Aged Care Act and associated reforms place greater emphasis on the quality of end of life care,” she says. “Services are expected to demonstrate how they are meeting this standard, which requires appropriate systems for planning, recording and reviewing care.”
The digital dashboard developed through the project is designed to assist providers by consolidating relevant clinical and care data, presenting it visually in a way that highlights evidence-based core elements essential for quality end-of-life care planning and delivery. This approach helps integrate end-of-life care more seamlessly into the daily practices of clinicians and care providers
Dr Vandersman notes that the implementation of digital tools in aged care requires careful attention to design, access and training.
“Digital solutions need to be accessible, relevant and easy to use,” she says. “They should support rather than complicate the work of staff and align with the real world conditions in which care is provided.”
With a background in nursing, Dr Vandersman brings a clinical lens to her research. Her approach focuses on understanding how digital systems can complement rather than replace the human aspects of care.
“Technology has the potential to support communication, decision making and coordination of care,” she says. “But it must be used in ways that reflect the values and preferences of older people, and the professional judgement of those providing care.”
In addition to residential aged care, her research also addresses the growing demand for end of life care at home. The new Support at Home program introduces changes that will affect how services are delivered to people who choose to remain at home in their final months.
“Digital platforms have the potential to support home based care by improving access to information and enabling coordination between different providers,” Dr Vandersman says. “This is especially important as more people express a preference to die at home, and services seek ways to make that possible.”
As the project enters the final year of its current funding period, efforts are focused on refining the tools to ensure they align with ongoing reform changes while promoting broader adoption across the sector. Dr Vandersman also highlights the broader value of digital data in shaping policy and planning.
“Reliable data can help identify service gaps and inform decisions at a system level,” she says. “But it is equally important that data supports the people who are delivering care on the ground.”
The integration of digital technology into aged care is still evolving. As reform progresses, projects like this aim to ensure that technology is used in a way that supports both quality care and workforce sustainability.