CareSearch - information about palliative care

CareSearch is part of the Australian Knowledge Network project, a major initiative funded by the Australian Department of Ageing since 2006 to provide information about palliative care to all who are involved with it: patients, carers, friends and families as well as nurses, doctors and other caring professionals.

The CareSearch website www.caresearch.com.au provides a suite of services for nurses, doctors, allied health practitioners and patients and families to link them directly to the best available evidence on palliative care.

A person with a life-limiting illness is not just a patient but part of a family and of a community. Often when people are seriously ill, they prefer to be at home. People they know can help provide their care and social support. This may be their GP and community nurses. It will also be their family, friends, neighbours and acquaintances.

Patients and carers have information needs, such as 'Is this level of breathlessness normal?' 'What do I say when I visit?' 'Where can I go to find services?' CareSearch aims to provide a one stop shop of information and practical resources to help answer these questions.

The CareSearch site contains content pages written and peer reviewed by Australian health professionals. It also contains tools and databases for accessing and collecting the best available evidence. CareSearch follows thorough quality processes to ensure that trustworthy information is provided.

CareSearch focuses on the needs of specific populations within the community including disadvantaged or culturally diverse groups. Seven DVDs for the community about palliative care have been voiced into three languages.

A large number of CareSearch resources can be ordered free of charge in print form. Please contact caresearch@flinders.edu.au with questions, comments or feedback or to request resources.