“New estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that around 24 million adults require palliative care each year. 66% of these are over 60 years old. This World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (13th October 2012), Palliative Care Australia (PCA) and the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) are warning that an urgent response is needed to improve palliative care for older people and to meet the growing needs of the world’s ageing populations.” Retrieved
This World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, palliative care organisations are calling for urgent action from UN
agencies, governments, the private sector and civil society to ensure the following:
- the inclusion of older people in the decision‐making around their care options, including at the end of life
- existing health policies address the unique palliative care needs of older people
- universal access to hospice and palliative care for older people living with, and dying from, life‐limiting
- conditions including non‐communicable conditions
- access to, and availability of, pain medications, including oral opioids, for older people worldwide
- adequate support, training, supplies and equipment so that health professionals and carers can provide
- palliative care for older people in the community, in inpatient facilities and in people’s own homes.
For more information visit: www.worldday.org
You may also want to revisit the site “Life Before Death” that I mentioned in a blog a few weeks ago. Mike has developed a series of film about lack of availability of opioids. Excellent film to watch.
Kath
