A CONFERENCE on delivering palliative and end of life care for care home residents will be held by Wigan and Leigh Hospice on Wednesday, March 13.

Titled "Living and Dying Well in a Care Home", the conference will focus on the knowledge and skills needed to care for residents who are nearing the end of their lives.

It will also explore how to allow individuals with a palliative condition to lead a full life.

The one-day event, which will take place at Leigh Sports Village, will be carried out by the Hospice in your Care Home team which currently works with 11 of the borough’s 21 care homes.

It will be chaired by CEO of charity Hospice UK Tracey Bleakley and will feature presentations by consultant geriatrician from NHS England Dr Martin Vernon who will discuss his work in frailty care.

Musician Mary Dunsford will speak about the importance of music at the end of life and Cath Barton will present a session on the Community Circles project operating in the borough.

Manager of the Hospice in your Care Home team Debbie Dempsey said: “Care homes provide a significant amount of palliative and end of life care, so it is vital that staff are adequately trained in how to provide the best possible care for their residents. This conference will highlight some of the innovations in end of life care taking place in care homes and make recommendations on how staff can support residents to lead a full life, which reflects their preferences and wishes.

“We are fortunate to be joined by some exceptional speakers including Dr Peter Fenwick who will speak on the fascinating subject of deathbed visions and Dr Ann Johnson MBE, a care home resident who will describe her personal experience of dementia.”

The conference will be of interest to anyone who may provide support to care homes or work with individuals with palliative and end-of-life care needs.

This includes care home owners and staff, GPs, social workers, District Nurses and hospital trust staff.

In the last three years the Hospice in your Care Home team has been delivering training to care home staff in how to look after residents with palliative and end-of-life care needs.

For more information visit wlh.org.uk. Alternatively contact the Hospice in your Care Home team at Wigan and Leigh Hospice on 01942 525566 or email hiych@wlh.org.uk.