Associate Professor Anita Goh (MAPS, FCCN) is a clinician-researcher with expertise in mental health, cognition, ageing, and dementia, and a focus in effective translation of evidence into policy and practice. Anita is a clinical neuropsychologist and a principal researcher at the National Ageing Research Institute, where she is Director of Social Gerontology. She also holds honorary roles at the University of Melbourne and at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. In addition to her research, Dr. Goh is actively involved in the governance, oversight and strategic planning in various professional organisations. She is a Board Director and Fellow of the Australian Association of Gerontology; and is a Board Director/Councillor at the Royal Society of Victoria, and served on the Advisory Council of the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment.
Improving Palliative Care in Residential Aged Care Using Telehealth
Every older person has a right to high-quality end-of-life (EOL) care that honours who they are and what matters to them. Residential aged care (RAC) homes are increasingly where older Australians spend their final stage of life, and the sector carries this responsibility with care and dedication within systems under significant pressure. Supporting better EOL care requires investment in staff capability, coordination, documentation and access to specialist advice.
The IMproving PAlliative care in Residential aged care using Telehealth (IMPART) study addresses this need by testing an integrated model of palliative and EOL care support designed for real-world aged care settings.
IMPART supports aged care staff through education, local Planning Ahead Teams, and specialist telehealth support. The program aims to strengthen staff confidence, support preference-based decision making, reduce unplanned hospitalisations and improve residents’ EOL experience. It was tested in a trial across 10 RAC homes in Victoria, supported by three residential in-reach teams.
Over the 2.5-year trial, 2,607 residents contributed information; 40 staff joined Planning Ahead Teams to champion change in their homes; 91 accessed online EOL care training through IMPETUS-D modules; and 47 completed online Goals of Care training delivered by Australian geriatricians. The study also included 66 interviews with staff and in-reach teams about implementation, and surveys with 50 bereaved family members about satisfaction with EOL care and comfort at EOL.
Preliminary findings suggest IMPART may reduce unplanned emergency admissions, indicating a pathway to better care and more appropriate use of acute services. Staff reported strong confidence responding to pain, but lower confidence managing conflict, highlighting a practical training need. Bereaved families often described care teams as sensitive and inclusive, while 18% felt their relative could have received better EOL care. Staff identified a need for stronger bereavement support, better resources for residents, families and staff, and clearer documentation of Goals of Care and resident preferences.
For the future of aged care, IMPART invites discussion about how RAC can be supported to deliver palliative and EOL care as core business. Sustainable change depends on relationships, workforce confidence, shared language, consistent documentation and everyday practices that help residents, families and staff make decisions with dignity.
This presentation shares IMPART’s design, implementation and emerging insights to offer delegates a feasible model for strengthening palliative and EOL care in aged care, and to spark conversation about building systems where a good death is supported, expected and possible.