AIIHPC Podcast All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care

Interviewed by Dr Karie Dennehy (Marymount University Hospital and Hospice & UCC) - Dr Una Molloy outlines her current role as Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) at St Francis Hospice in Palliative Care for Older People, and her research career including her PhD. Una’s PhD thesis focused on how palliative care is understood in older person residential care.

Dr Daniel Nuzum, Chaplain, and member of the Pastoral Care team at Marymount University Hospital and Hospice in Cork talks to Yvonne McCahill, Communications Manager, AIIHPC about the kind of supports they provide to patients with life-limiting conditions, their families and those close to them. These supports can help them to face the difficult challenges of their illness, to communicate better about their own personal needs and wishes.

Ann Marie Casey, Nurse Manager, Community Team in Foyle Hospice talks to Yvonne McCahill, Communications Manager, AIIHPC about the new Carer Health and Wellbeing Facilitator role that has commenced in Foyle Hospice. Annmarie talks about how the need for this role was identified and the supports they provide for carers so that their personal needs are met, while they are caring for their loved ones.

Valerie Smith, Public Engagement Lead at the Irish Hospice Foundation talks to Yvonne McCahill, Communications Manager, AIIHPC about the Irish Hospice Foundation’s Think Ahead programme. Think Ahead is a practical tool and customisable guide for advance care planning and end of life. It helps people to document their healthcare choices and personal wishes.

In this podcast, Valerie talks through the different documents and resources that make up the plan and what information each can be used to record, so that when the time comes to make those important and often difficult decisions, guidance is there. Think Ahead allows people to be involved and make decisions about their own care and record their own wishes. The resources have recently been updated to make them easier to use. They can be downloaded or ordered at www.thinkahead.ie

Find out more at https://ecrf-palliative-care-podcast.pinecast.co

Dr Regina McQuillan talks to Yvonne McCahill, Communications Manager, AIIHPC about the use of opioid medications (such as morphine) for pain relief from cancer pain and pain from other conditions, and how is it sometimes used in the treatment of other symptoms such as breathlessness. Dr McQuillan addresses how these medications are commonly used and their effectiveness. The conversation also focuses on some of the common concerns that people have who are prescribed them and managing the side effects.

Wei Qi Koh is an Occupational Therapist, Marie-Sklodowska Curie Fellow, and PhD student working with the DISTINCT (Dementia & Technology) collaborative partnership Project in NUI Galway. ECRF committee member, Rachel McCauley, talks to Wei about her work, which explores the use of technology in dementia care for older adults. Wei discusses novel ways in which the social health of older adults with dementia is being addressed and improved. Wei's recent research focuses on the use of pet robots in nursing homes, their effects on social health of older adults with dementia, and the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of this novel technology.

Find out more at https://ecrf-palliative-care-podcast.pinecast.co