Complete Guide on Palliative Care

Palliative care is a person-centred caregiving approach aimed to improving the quality of life of people living with a terminal or life-limiting illness and their families.

The main goal of palliative care is to manage symptoms, offering comfort and assistance for any emotional, physical, spiritual, and social needs. It is not exclusively reserved for the final weeks of life and many individuals receive palliative care for extended periods.

All Estia Health homes offer palliative and end-of-life care, tailored to each individual. Our teams work closely to ensure that our residents’ needs and wishes are met with compassion and dignity throughout this difficult time.

How is palliative care different to end of life care?

Often misinterpreted as synonymous, palliative care and end-of-life care are not exactly the same. While palliative care involves providing support and alleviating symptoms, end-of-life care focuses on the final stages of a person's life.

Where is palliative care provided?

Most people prefer to receive palliative care at home being cared for by their families, volunteers or specialist community services. Primary health care provided at hospitals or hospices may be necessary depending on the person's symptoms, complexity of their illness or if support becomes unavailable at home.

What are the principles of palliative care?

Palliative Care Australia outlines the core principles of palliative care that are expected to be demonstrated in all quality improvement, service delivery, policy and research activities:

• Person centred: Palliative care focuses on the individual and their wishes. It must treat the person holistically, considering their physical, emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. Care is provided with dignity and respect for each person's culture and background.
• Death is part of life: Death is accepted as a natural part of life. Palliative care helps people prepare for the end of life in a way that feels meaningful to them and their loved ones. This may involve talking about wishes in advance with doctors and caregivers.
• Carers also matter: Caregivers are seen as fundamental partners in care. They often provide most of the day-to-day support, and their own well-being needs to be considered.
• Accessible: Palliative care should be available to everyone who needs it, regardless of location or background. Specialist care may be necessary sometimes for complex situations, but other caregivers can also be supported to provide good palliative care. For more information about how to access palliative care, visit the Department of Health and Aged Care
• Support anywhere: Allied health professionals, volunteers, community, medical specialist, or anyone else involved in healthcare can play an important role in palliative care. By working together, we can ensure people with life-limiting illnesses receive the care they need.
• Evidence based: Palliative care is based on the best available evidence, and people experiencing a terminal illness should have access to reliable information to make informed decisions about their care.

The goal of palliative care is to support individuals with life-limiting illnesses, throughout various stages, by enhancing comfort and easing symptoms. It will neither shorten nor lengthen life expectancy, but it aims to provide the best quality of life possible until the person dies.

To learn more about end-of-life care or palliative care, please visit Palliative Care Australia.