1. LOOK FOR ANY GENERAL INDICATORS OF POOR OR DETERIORATING HEALTH
1.a. Unplanned hospital admission(s)
1.b. Performance status is poor or deteriorating. (eg. the person is in bed or a chair for more than half the day.))
1.c. Depends on others for care due to increasing physical and/or mental health problems.
1.d. The person's carer needs more help and support.
1.e. The person has had significant weight loss over the last few months, or remains underweight.
1.f. Persistent symptoms despite optimal treatment of underlying condition(s)
1.g. The person (or family) asks for palliative care; chooses to reduce, stop, or not have treatment; or wishes to focus on quality of life.
2. LOOK FOR CLINCAL INDICATORS OF ONE OR MULTIPLE LIFE-LIMITING CONDITIONS. 2.a Cancer
2.a.(1) Functional ability deteriorating due to progressive cancer.
2.a.(2) Too frail for cancer treatment or treatment is for symptom control.
2.b. Dementia/Frailty
2.b.(1) Unable to dress, walk or eat without help.
2.b.(2) Eating and drinking less; difficulty with swallowing.
2.b.(3) Urinary and faecal incontinence.
2.b.(4) Not able to communicate by speaking; little social interaction.
2.b.(5) Frequent falls; fractured femur.
2.b.(6) Recurrent febrile episodes or infections; aspiration pneumonia.
2.c. Neurological Disease
2.c.(1) Progressive deterioration in physical and/or cognitive function despite optimal therapy.
2.c.(2) Speech problems with increasing difficulty communicating and/or progressive difficulty with swallowing.
2.c.(3) Recurrent aspiration pneumonia; breathless or respiratory failure.
2.c.(4) Persistent paralysis after stroke with significant loss of function and ongoing disability.
2.d. Heart/Vascular Disease
2.d.(1) Heart failure or extensive, untreatable coronary artery disease; with breathlessness or chest pain at rest or on minimal exertion.
2.e. Respiratory Disease
2.e.(1) Severe, chronic lung disease; with breathlessness at rest or on minimal effort between exacerbations.
2.e.(2) Persistent hypoxia needing long term oxygen therapy.
2.e.(3) Has needed ventilation for respiratory failure or ventilation is contraindicated.
2.f. Kidney Disease
2.f.(1) Stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease (eGFR<30ml//min) with deteriorating health.
2.f.(2) Kidney failure complicating other life limiting condtions or treatments.
2.f.(3) Stopping or not starting dialysis.
2.g. Liver Disease
2.g.(1) Cirrhosis with one or more complications in the past year: • diuretic resistant ascites • hepatic encephalopathy • hepatorenal syndrome • bacterial peritonitis • recurrent peritoneal bleeds.
2.g.(2) Liver transplant is not possible.
2.h. Other Conditions:
2.h.(1) Deteriorating and at risk of dying with other conditions or complications that are not reversible; any treatment available will have a poor outcome.
3. REVIEW CURRENT CARE AND CARE PLANNING
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Review current treatment and medication to ensure the person receives optimal care; minimise polypharmacy.
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Consider referral for specialist assessment if symptoms or problems are complex and difficult to manage.
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Agree on a current and future care plan with the person and their family. Support family carers.
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Plan ahead if loss of decision-making capacity is likely.
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Record, communicate and coordinate the care plan.