Author:

Abstract

There is a need for a sustainable and integrated model of end of life care that meets the expectations of citizens and their families as the  care and fiscal demands on our health system increase in the coming 50 years (1)

Over the past 50 years the end of life experience for Australians has become increasingly institutionalised. Only 20 % of people die outside hospitals or RACF’s, one of the lowest rates in the developed world. The costs for community based care can be 50% or less than a hospital (2), and the emergent models of compassionate community care show sustainability and improved social, physical , spiritual and emotional benefits in line with the Ottawa Charter.

This presentation will give an overview of such a “work in progress” local model based on a person first, compassionate community framework, which is scaleable to meet the growing public health challenge of end of life. With increased death literacy people can feel confident to support the dying in the community.

Emerging Australian public policy (3) aligns with this model of end of life care and can be interwoven with the homeostatic First Nations knowledges that enabled families and communities to thrive in life and celebrate death for over 60,000 years.

1.Australia’s Health 2016 (AIHW)

2.SCARC 2012

3.Compassionate Communities; Final Report 2018 , NOUS Group