The results were presented in the context of the European elections, which is key, since the funding and performance of European research projects depend on the policies implemented in the following years.
, led by Polibienestar, showed significant advances in patients’ assessment, particularly in areas such as daily life activities and physical and psychological symptoms. Their carers also expressed similar concerns, highlighting the importance of providing adequate health and social care. The project’s results showed significant advances in palliative care symptoms and in reducing the emotional anxiety of the carers.
Policy recommendations from InAdvance will provide European politicians with the specific tools and measures to improve early detection of palliative care in older people. These recommendations are based on pilot activities and consultations carried out during the project.
It is essential to ensure access to palliative care services for everyone, especially for older people with chronic diseases and non-oncological patients, through early detection that is more appropriate to their needs.
It is also crucial to focus on the patient. The project’s principal investigator, Full Professor of the Department of Social Work and Social Services at the Universitat de València Jorge Garcés-Ferrer, states that ’it is fundamental to include palliative care in the standard care pathways for older people in different settings, such as hospitals, long-term care centres, and community-based care’. He also stressed ’the need for a continuous and holistic approach to palliative care, ensuring continuity between different settings and appropriate public health coordination.’
The project’s results also highlight the importance of developing policies to improve the education and training of public health professionals and informal carers. Furthermore, it is recommended that public awareness campaigns be carried out to educate citizens about the benefits of early palliative care, to tackle myths and to promote debates about early care planning and the importance of quality of life until the end of life.
The project also aims to promote policies to ensure the proper funding and reimbursement for palliative care services for older people. The Council of Europe Recommendations and the European Care Strategy provide a framework for member states to develop action plans in the following years. They will serve as application tools for better practices at the national level to be included in the national action plans.
