Including people with learning difficulties in end of life care
Press release published
Including Diverse Communities in End of Life Care was a three-year project launched in Cardiff in January 2016 with funding from the Big Lottery Fund. In the project, we looked at the needs of people with learning difficulties as well as addressing the needs of people with dementia and people with different religious views, including those with no religious beliefs.
We recognise that people from different groups have diverse needs and may face barriers when they want to access end of life care. By working with local organisations and individuals, we wanted to:
- Find out more about what particular needs those groups of people may have
- Help them understand how we can help
- Make it easier for them to get support from us when they need it.
This project has improved our understanding of the barriers faced in accessing palliative care services for people with learning difficulties. It has allowed us to work directly with people with learning difficulties to ensure their voices are considered as we plan, develop and deliver our services. Their feedback has enabled us to make changes to both increase the access to and improve the inclusivity of our services. Our staff have access to appropriate training and support and are more confident in working with people with learning difficulties, their families and carers within the hospice and local communities.
The challenge for Marie Curie and other service providers, within palliative care and the wider health and care sector, is to ensure that the work, findings and recommendations from this project can be maintained and further developed in supporting equitable access to palliative care services for all people.
The attached poster will be exhibited at the ‘Transforming Palliative Care’ Hospice UK conference in Telford on the 27th and 28th of November.
Michael Banner, Project Manager
Phone: 02920 426033