Speak Out February 2019

Online resources

CareSearch and palliAGED are Commonwealth Government funded online resources that pull together and consolidate evidence-based information and resources into accessible language and formats. CareSearch provides evidence-based palliative care information across the lifespan and across the health system, palliAGED provides that information for the aged care sector. In each, the perspectives of health and care professionals, and of patients, carers, and their families are considered, and the materials are tailored to meet these needs. There are sections devoted to the information needs of allied health, nurses, GPs, residential aged care, researchers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Care, and patients, carers, and families. The Allied Health section offers support for seven allied health professions including speech pathologists. The newly-revised education section has a section dedicated to allied health. Palliative Perspectives presents blogs written by various contributors including allied health. Aged and palliative care online resources

When asked about the greatest challenge for speech pathologists in aged care, Margaret highlighted the need for undergraduate and qualified clinicians working with adult caseloads to be adequately trained in the fundamental aspects of normal ageing and neurocognitive conditions affecting older adults. “This is particularly important because in Australia we have an ageing population with known demographic statistics; 75-80% of hospital admissions are over 65 years, people are living longer into their mid 90s, 80% of people diagnosed with moderate to advanced dementia are still living at home, and usually enter into residential aged care in a much more fragile condition. There is also a growing acknowledgement of younger onset dementia (< 65 years). A robust knowledge of working with older people is therefore required for speech pathologists working across all clinical caseloads (i.e. traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, stroke, psychiatry, intellectual disability, palliative care, community-based care etc.). There is a growing body of literature acknowledging the influences of the ageing brain; the importance of an early and timely diagnosis for most effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and the life altering impact of cognitive-related decline associated with many health conditions commonly encountered by speech pathologists working with adults. “A growing number of speech pathology graduates work in private practice with older adults immediately post-graduation, especially in the residential aged care sector. Other more experienced clinicians work in a diagnostic capacity within multidisciplinary team settings. I therefore believe that there is a need for the speech pathologist profession to invest in and develop advanced skill training courses, online training programs and mentorship opportunities.” “I think a key opportunity for speech pathologists is to embrace the reality of an ageing society that presents across our clinical caseloads.”

www.caresearch.com.au www.palliaged.com.au

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February 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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