Reducing hospital admissions in remote Australia through the establishment of a palliative and chronic disease respite facility.

Background: There are limited respite services for palliative care patients and their families in the Northern Territory (NT). The high prevalence of complex chronic diseases, limited access to primary care services, and the poor living situations of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians result in high hospitalisation rates and pressure on tertiary health services. Palliative Care NT identified a need for a flexible, community based, culturally appropriate respite service in Alice Springs.

Improving the quality of life of palliative and chronic disease patients and carers in remote Australia with the establishment of a day respite facility.

Background: In the Northern Territory (NT) there is a lack of respite services available to palliative care patients and their families. Indigenous people in the NT suffer substantially higher rates of poorly controlled chronic disease and premature mortality associated with poor heath than the Australian population as a whole. The need for a flexible, community based, culturally appropriate respite service in Alice Springs was identified and, after the service had been operating for 10 months, a qualitative evaluation was conducted to investigate the experiences of people involved in the use and operation of the service.

Nutrition and older indigenous australians: service delivery implications in remote communities. A narrative review.

Objective: To describe the nutritional status of older Indigenous people, barriers to achieving optimal nutrition, and the effectiveness of programs aimed at improving nutrition in older Indigenous people in remote communities.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was undertaken utilising electronic databases Scopus, CINAHL, Informit, Ovid MEDLINE, ProQuest, Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO, ATSI HealthInfoNet and Google Scholar. Grey literature was also accessed.