Written by Dr Lenore de la Perrelle, Research Fellow, End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC)
Talking about end-of-life planning and care can be challenging for aged care staff. They often need resources and information to help them engage better with families. As a key project for ELDAC, Talking with Families had research embedded into the approach to explore how these resources were used and whether they made a difference in practice.
We found that having a structured approach significantly boosted staff confidence. The resources provided visual prompts to help recognise changes and decline in older people. A clear framework for initiating and engaging in ongoing conversations, helped staff structure their talks around observed changes and the need to review care plans. By breaking down the conversations to focus on what mattered when changes were noticed, staff felt more confident and saw that this approach opened up conversations better.
Aged care staff discovered that engaging with families and the older person early about possible changes and inviting them to contribute, made the conversation less confronting. They felt this approach was more humane and built an understanding, making palliative and end-of-life care feel like a natural next step. The resources were easy to use and fit well into their current systems. A family brochure helped start the conversation, allowing families to read about possible future changes.
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve end-of-life care in aged care settings, we collaborated with Jo Boylan, CEO of Clayton Church Homes. Throughout the project, Clayton Church Homes played a key role in implementing and evaluating new approaches to advance care planning, ensuring both residents and families are better supported during this critical phase of life.
Reflecting on the journey, Jo Boylan emphasised the profound impact this project had on both staff and families. While the clinical expertise of their teams was already strong, this initiative helped address a critical gap, ensuring that end-of-life conversations are introduced early and integrated naturally into care planning. Jo noted, “Our staff have always been passionate about providing a good death, but this project helped us focus on preparing families for that journey as well. The health literacy we gained wasn’t just for residents and their families — it was invaluable for our staff, allowing them to guide these discussions with more confidence and clarity.”
One of the major outcomes of this initiative is that Clayton Church Homes will now formally incorporate these discussions into their standard service process. The research highlighted how crucial it is for families to have access to information early, not just when a resident reaches the final stages of life, but well in advance. Jo shared, “Now that we’ve been involved in this research, we can’t imagine not having these resources as part of our approach. They’ve become a fundamental tool in how we support residents and families.”
The resources continue to be available for aged care services and will support staff in meeting the new quality standards. RePaDD Centre Director Jennifer Tieman remarked, “This project is a powerful example of how research, collaboration, and aged care services can come together to drive meaningful change. The insights gained here will continue to inform future projects and improve the way we support individuals and their families at the end of life.”
Dr Lenore de la Perrelle
Research Fellow, ELDAC Project