A groundbreaking mobile application is putting critical palliative care training directly into the hands of frontline care workers, potentially improving end-of-life experiences for thousands of Australians living with dementia.
Dementia Australia has added a new palliative care course to its award-winning Ask Annie app, coinciding with National Palliative Care Week. The mobile training tool provides on-demand education designed specifically for health, aged, and disability care workers.
“Educating the health and aged care workforce about dementia and palliative care will make a critical contribution to improving access to timely and appropriate palliative care for people living with dementia,” said Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan.
The new course transforms complex palliative care concepts into practical, accessible modules that workers can complete at their own pace through their smartphones.
“It is not just about managing and treating physical symptoms, it is also about supporting the emotional, social, cultural and spiritual aspects of a person’s life whilst also supporting their loved ones,” Professor Buchanan explained.
The initiative comes as Australia’s ageing population faces increasing dementia rates, with many families reporting challenges accessing appropriate end-of-life care tailored to dementia patients’ unique needs.
James Chaousis, a Dementia Australia Advocate who cared for his wife Linda before she passed away from dementia earlier this year, emphasised the profound impact of well-trained care workers.
“It is important to uphold the core values and preferences of the person living with dementia,” Chaousis said, reflecting on how compassionate, informed care made a significant difference during his wife’s final months.
The course features four key modules that address different aspects of palliative dementia care, all accessible through short lessons that can be completed between shifts or during brief breaks.
Cultural sensitivity forms a cornerstone of the new training program, developed in partnership with the Fronditha Care Foundation, which specialises in culturally appropriate aged care services.
“We collaborated with Dementia Australia, to deliver specialised training with a focus on a palliative approach to dementia care, psychosocial support, assessing and managing symptoms through exploring Greek customs around death and dying,” said Fronditha Care CEO Faye Spiteri OAM.
“By acknowledging and respecting cultural beliefs and individual preferences and embedding practices across the continuum of care, we can better meet the needs of our elders at this stage of life,” Spiteri added.
The Ask Annie app, which hosts the new course, has already gained recognition for its innovative approach to professional development, offering interactive learning experiences that help care professionals develop dementia-specific skills through real-world scenarios and problem-solving exercises.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
