More Support For The Otago Residential Care Sector.

Posted Monday February 17, 2025
Home About Us News More Support For The Otago Residential Care Sector.
OCH's Residential Care Team (RCT) are gearing up to be even better in 2025, including expansion of their service into smaller residential community homes. Check out the team's FOUR KEY FOCUS AREAS for this year.

The RCT is a team of six nurses - one nurse practitioner, three clinical nurse specialists and two registered nurses, who provide specialist palliative care knowledge and skills in residential care facilities in Otago.

The team's focus for 2025 is in four key areas:

1. Connection

New projects planned this year to assist with connecting with our stakeholders:

  • Newsletter - includes information such as new initiatives, policy updates and planned education sessions.

  • Pamphlet - includes information to assist people with the transition into residential care, e.g. the role of RCT nurses, changing GPs/pharmacies

  • "Palliative Pearls" using short-form video - showcasing common palliative care topics such as managing breathlessness, understanding normal dying and managing respiratory secretions.

2. Education

Building on existing education modules and opportunities, including:

  • Syringe driver practical training.

  • Case reviews at residential facilities to assist with care planning and identifying deteriorating residents.

  • Palliative Care for Care Assistants - four face to face sessions planned for this year, covering Central Otago, North Otago, Dunedin and one via Zoom

  • Education sessions tailored to individual facility needs on topics such as normal dying, symptom management and serious illness conversations.

3. Expansion

  • The Residential Care will now receive referrals for the smaller residential community homes, assisting people with physical or intellectual with palliative care needs.

  • The team aims to build better relationships with rest home level facilities, as we anticipate increased need for support in this area. 

4. Transition

  • Transfer processes - one of our team worked with our community-based nurses to create and implement a form used to assist residential care providers with identifying needs and developing care plans for new residents that were on the hospice programme prior to entering care. This form includes existing care plans and a functional assessment. The resident's GP is also advised of their move into care in an effort to streamline this process.

The team is happy to hear from and work with stakeholders to help improve what we do in the residential care sector.