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Introduction
Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) in Palliative Care (PalCare) is a new and developing area of specialty which aims to provide appropriate SLP practice within palliative and end-of-life health and community care services. While the profession of speech-language pathology/speech therapy has been in existence since the turn of the 20th Century, and palliative care has been practiced for centuries (in one form or another), nevertheless, the combination of the two disciplinary areas intersecting has often been intermittent and highly dependent upon a specific institutional context, rather than being systematically endorsed by any government regulations or association clinical practice guidelines (CPGs).

SLP-PalCare Focus
Speech-Language Pathology in Palliative Care has a primary focus upon ten major areas in order to redress the lack of SLP CPGs:(Chahda et al, 2020)


 * 1) Encouraging, developing and/or conducting ongoing research and creating resources for SLPs working in Palliative Care.
 * 2) Educating health professions about the role of SLPs in PalCare.
 * 3) Establishing referral procedures for SLP intervention within PalCare.
 * 4) Integrating PalCare within SLP tertiary education.
 * 5) Promoting the education, consultation, supervision and mentoring of SLPs new to PalCare.
 * 6) Incorporating SLP observations and interventions into the overall multi-disciplinary/palliative care team goals.
 * 7) Focussing PalCare assessment and therapy to include both cognitive-communication and swallowing interventions.
 * 8) Integration of SLPs as a part of a practical, consultative and holistic PalCare approach.
 * 9) Encouraging professional self-care consideration for SLPs working in PalCare.
 * 10) The development of uniform SLP-PalCare CPGs

Research and Future Development
Based upon the findings of an increasing number of researchers [for example see the reviews of Chahda et al (2017) and Krikheli et al (2018)] there is clearly a need for further research and increased scope of practice accompanied by the development of clinical practice guidelines so as to enhance the multidisciplinary and holistic collaboration of SLPs within Palliative Care contexts.

SLP-PalCare-SIG
To achieve the objective foci of SLPs within Palliative Care (as noted above) the formation of the 'Speech-Language Pathology and Palliative Care Special Interest Group' (SLP-PalCare-SIG) has been listed by Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) and currently involves a number of universities including La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia), Southern Cross University (Brisbane, Australia), The University of Melbourne (Melbourne, Australia) and St. Louis University (St. Louis, USA). SLP representatives from other universities are also considering contributing to the SLP-PalCare-SIG so as to further enhance the quality of care for patients/clients receiving palliative care.

Recommended Reading
The following sources (in alphabetical order) are recommended reading regarding the role of SLPs in Palliative Care:


 * Chahda, L., Mathisen, B. A., & Carey, L. B. (2017). The role of speech-language pathologists in adult palliative care. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 19(1), 58-68.
 * Chahda, L., Carey, L. B., Mathisen, B. A., & Threats, T. (2020). Speech-language pathologists and adult palliative care in Australia. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, [First Online] 1-13.
 * Hawksley, R., Ludlow, F., Buttimer, H., & Bloch, S. (2017). Communication disorders in palliative care: Investigating the views, attitudes and beliefs of speech and language therapists. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 23, 543–551. doi: 10.12968/ijpn.2017.23.11.543.
 * Kelly, K., Cumming, S., Kenny, B., Smith-Merry, J., & Bogaardt, H. (2018). Getting comfortable with “comfort feeding”: An exploration of legal and ethical aspects of the Australian speech-language pathologist’s role in palliative dysphagia care. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 20(3), 371-379.
 * Krikheli, L., Mathisen, B. A., & Carey, L. B. (2018). Speech–language pathology in paediatric palliative care: A scoping review of role and practice. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 20(5), 541-553.
 * Pascoe, A., Breen, L.J., & Cocks, N. (2018). What is needed to prepare speech pathologists to work in palliative care?. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 2, 1–8.
 * Pollens, R. (2012). Integrating speech-language pathology services in palliative end-of-life care. Topics in Language Disorders, 32, 137–148. doi:10.1097/TLD.0b013e3182543533.
 * Pollens, R. (2004). Role of the speech-language pathologist in palliative hospice care. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 7, 694–702. doi:10.1089/jpm.2004.7.694.