9 September 2021
The Irish Association for Palliative Care (IAPC) are leading the way in the promotion of Palliative Care Week, coming from September 12-18.
The resident Carmichael member are the national charity promoting palliative care. Palliative Care Week aims to raise awareness of the difference palliative care can make to people with life-limiting conditions, carers and families throughout the island of Ireland.
Key Aims
There are several key aims for Palliative Care Week; one prime aim is dispelling any myths about palliative care. In truth, many people miss out on palliative care because of this misunderstanding, and in creating further clarity, the truth will help more people receive the care they deserve.
It’s More Than You Think is the theme set for Palliative Care Week. The premise is the community want to increase the understanding of what palliative care is and raise awareness of its benefits for people with life-limiting conditions.
Events to Look Out For
There is going to be many events being held throughout Palliative Care Week. Most events will be online due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, but there will be some in-person events too. To find out about all the events see here.
To hone in on two events however, there is one event set for this coming Monday September 13 titled Supporting people with an intellectual disability at end-of-life: Making the care conversation meaningful’. This has been organised by –Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability (TCAID) with support from the All-Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC). To check out this event see here.
One in-person event taking place during Palliative Care week is a workshop titled ‘Nuts and bolts of how healthcare teams can support families when a mum or dad of dependent children is at end of life with cancer’. This will take place on Friday 17 September 2021, from 9.30am – 1.00pm at Cancer Fund for Children, Daisy Lodge, 124a Bryansford Road, Newcastle, Co. Down. All key info for the event can be found here.
What the IAPC Do
Established in 1993 as an all island body with the purpose of promoting palliative care nationally and internationally, the Irish Association for Palliative Care (IAPC) is a multi-disciplinary membership non-government organisation. The intention of the founders was that IAPC would be identified by its inclusiveness and would encompass the whole island of Ireland.
The IAPC membership reflects the entire spectrum of all those who work in or have a professional interest in the provision of palliative care, i.e. doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains and pastoral carers, pharmacists, psychologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, as well as executive staff and academics and educationalists.
Membership also includes clinicians and allied health professionals working in related areas such as geriatrics, oncology, psycho-oncology, paediatrics, and pain management. The purpose of IAPC is to address the challenges in meeting the current and future needs of those requiring palliative care and end-of-life care in extended care settings, and also future access to and delivery of palliative care in these settings.
The IAPC is organised around a number of working groups designed to create forums for shared best practice and learning opportunities, and for members to further their professional development, education and research.
The Association pursues its objectives through providing structured opportunities for:
- Networking,
- Sharing and learning,
- Educational offerings,
- Promoting evidence-based research,
- Publications,
- Representation on national bodies and influencing the development of national policy.
Internationally it is strongly aligned with the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC).
The IAPC Working Groups inform the strategic direction and policy decisions of the Board, thereby creating a strong foundation for the IAPC’s position as the primary collective voice for palliative care in Ireland. Current IAPC Working Group is as follows:
IAPC Education and Research Forum
Conclusion
To conclude, palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of people facing the problems associated with life-limiting illness and supports their families. Pertinently, the approach focuses on the prevention and relief of suffering by means of assessing and treating pain and other physical, psychosocial or spiritual problems.
By supporting the IAPC you are supporting their fantastic, selfless work. You can help them through donations, but also by simply promoting their work through social media. You can find the IAPC here.
