Exploring the Implications of Aged Care Reform on Allied Health Workforce and Capacity to Deliver Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Background: The aged care sector in Australia is increasingly focused on a personalised care approach which prioritises dignity and respect for older adults. With a growing ageing population, we are also seeing more complexity in health needs and palliative care. Allied health professionals are skilled in the delivery of care that fosters independence and quality of life as health deteriorates. However, in the recent aged care reform, there has been concern that allied health are not clearly recognised for their role in aged and palliative care. Methods: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with aged care service providers and allied health peak body representatives and clinicians to understand the perceived impact of aged care reforms in Australia on allied health workforce. Guided by a constructivist epistemology, reflexive thematic analysis was used to understand key themes. Results: Eight interviews were conducted, yielding one key theme and three sub themes. These were person-centred palliative care, advocates, location of care matters, and funding model, with the key theme of the funding model intersecting with all other themes. Conclusions: The issue of recognising allied health best practice in aged and palliative care is multifactorial. At the heart of the problem appears to be how well recognised allied health disciplines are for the value of their contribution, and constraints imposed by funding models and sector priorities on the sufficient input of the full scope of practice. Without a sufficient and skilled workforce supported to enact their full scope, the ability to deliver a personalised care approach and outcomes for our ageing population will suffer.