Capecare strengthens palliative care through national initiative
Capecare is proud to be participating in the End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) initiative – a nationally recognised program designed to support aged care providers to improve palliative care, strengthen advanced care planning, and build stronger connections across health and community services.
The ELDAC project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and delivered through a partnership of three universities and national organisations representing aged care, palliative care and primary care.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is a compassionate and supportive approach that aims to enhance quality of life for individuals living with a life-limiting illness, and for the families and carers supporting them.
It focuses on preventing and relieving suffering through early identification of needs, careful assessment, and effective management of pain and other concerns. This includes physical, psychological, emotional, cultural and spiritual support, ensuring each person’s care is respectful, individualised, and aligned with their values.
What is ELDAC?
The ELDAC model provides a practical framework for improving how aged care services respond to changing health needs and end-of-life care. It supports providers to strengthen:
- Advance Care Planning
- Assessing palliative care needs
- Responding to deterioration
- Working collaboratively with families, GPs and allied health professionals
- Connecting with wider palliative care services
This approach can contribute to reduced hospital admissions, shorter hospital stays, and improved quality of life outcomes for older Australians receiving care in residential aged care and in the community.
Capecare’s ELDAC journey
Capecare commenced the ELDAC journey at our Dunsborough facility in November 2025. We will commence at our Busselton facility and in our Community care services in May 2026.
As part of ELDAC, we are focusing on raising awareness and strengthening our approach to palliative and end-of-life care through:
- targeted meetings and planning activities
- increased collaboration with GPs and allied health professionals
- improved access to trusted, evidence-based resources and tools
- building staff capability through education and training
- supporting stronger communication and care planning with residents, clients and families
Staff across our Busselton and Dunsborough residential care facilities and community care will have access to a collection of free, evidence-based information, tools and resources developed through ELDAC and supported by trusted programs including palliAGED and Advance Care Planning Australia.
A key part of Capecare’s participation includes support from the Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA).
Benefits for Capecare and our community
Capecare’s involvement in ELDAC is expected to deliver wide-ranging benefits, including:
- stronger support to provide palliative care through structured frameworks and planning
- access to trusted evidence-based resources and online tools
- increased education and training to build confidence and expertise
- greater confidence for staff, volunteers, residents and families
- a valuable learning opportunity across our entire organisation
- cost efficiency through grant-funded training opportunities
- strengthened networks with local palliative care services, GPs and allied health professionals
Capecare is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality care that supports dignity, comfort and choice. The ELDAC initiative is an important step in strengthening our palliative approach and ensuring residents and clients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
We look forward to continuing this journey and sharing further updates as the program expands across our communities.
