Palliative Aged Care Outcomes Program (PACOP)

What is PACOP?

The purpose of the Palliative Aged Care Outcomes Program (PACOP) is to improve palliative and end of life care outcomes for people living in aged care homes (ACHs). The program is a robust, evidence-based, best practice model which facilitates optimal palliative and end-of-life care for all residents, and supports systematic improvements in ACHs and across the sector.

PACOP is a national program delivered by the Australian Health Services Research Institute at the University of Wollongong and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. Participation is voluntary and is available to all ACHs in Australia.

What PACOP is doing?

PACOP supports ACHs to embed a framework for the routine use of standardised assessments to identify residents’ palliative care needs and concerns, to inform appropriate and timely care and contribute to comprehensive care planning for residents. Reporting of outcomes and benchmarking are used to systematically improve the care and outcomes in participating homes. ACHs are encouraged to join communities of practice led by PACOP to promote knowledge sharing, support and sustainability. The PACOP program involves the following two modules.

The Profile Collection is the core module and involves the regular (3 monthly) comprehensive assessment of all residents in the ACH to identify their palliative care concerns. The tools help to identify those who are deteriorating and who may benefit from receiving palliative care. Assessments form part of the routine cycle of assessment and care planning and helps inform changes needed to the care plan.

The Outcomes Collection introduces the Assess, Respond, Plan protocol to guide regular monitoring of symptom severity and distress, and to inform appropriate and timely care. The regular assessments allow the effectiveness of care and interventions to be monitored.

Participating ACHs receive six monthly reports which are used to systematically improve their care and outcomes. ACHs may implement the full PACOP program at one time (i.e., the Profile and Outcomes Collections together) or sequentially, commencing with the Profile Collection. PACOP works with ACHs to use each aspect of the program to achieve maximum benefit. All resources, education and mentoring needed for ACHs to implement PACOP are provided at no cost to ACHs or their organisations.

How does PACOP help?

In a person–centred approach, PACOP allows residents and families to communicate their experiences and preferences. It also supports improved communication within the ACH team, with other health professionals, and with residents and families. It provides comprehensive documentation, robust data and support for quality improvement systems, and evidence of compliance with Aged Care Quality Standards for accreditation.

Last updated 06 October 2022