Palliative care is often a misunderstood, but profoundly important part of Australia’s healthcare system, with over 450,000 people accessing palliative care supports each year [1].
What is palliative care?
Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of live for people with serious illnesses, regardless of their life expectancy. People who receive palliative care most likely have an advanced, progressive disease and are no longer receiving curative treatments.
Palliative care looks different for everyone, and depending on your condition, you may be given a palliative care team, which comprises doctors, nurses, specialists and allied health supports.
At its core, palliative care is about ensuring the comfort of patients, to allow them to live as pain-free as possible in an independent setting, like their home or care facility.
Misconceptions of palliative care
People often think of palliative care as end-of-life care, but it isn’t. Palliative care addresses physical symptoms the patient is suffering, including pain, nausea and fatigue. There is also palliative care support for emotional, social and spiritual needs.
While palliative care is like end-of-life care in its attributes, people can receive palliative care for years. End-of-life care is specifically catered to people in the final stage of life and provides comfort and support to them during this period.
Palliative care is available to people with a number of conditions, including cancer, dementia, chronic health conditions or degenerative conditions like ALS. [2]
Who can access palliative care?
In Australia, access to palliative care is available to anyone facing a life-limiting illness, and is usually recommended by your treating specialist doctor.
Because palliative care is designed to enhance a patient’s quality of life, it can be delivered in a number of settings, including:
- In hospital
- In a care facility like a nursing home
- At home
Because palliative care is different to end-of-life care, patients can start receiving it at any point in their illness. It does not have to be during the final stages of a disease. Therefore, many peoples palliative care includes things such as community access and respite.
If you believe you should be accessing palliative care, speak to your GP who can write you a referral and support you to set up a palliative care team [2]. A palliative care team may include:
- Specialist doctors
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Allied health professionals
- Psychologist
- Volunteers
In-home palliative care
Many people wish to receive care in their home. In fact, 70 per cent of Australians wish to die at home according to research from Palliative Care Australia [3].
Receiving palliative care at home is very similar to the care given in a hospital setting and allows you to be in the comfort of your own surroundings.
In-home palliative care can often include:
- Installing equipment and aides
- In-home nursing to help with personal care and domestic duties
- Support with meals and cleaning
- Liaison with your broader medical team
- Support with access to the community and getting out and about
- Support for your carers and family through respite and social supports
Working with Focused Health Care
Focused Health Care is run by registered nurses, with extensive understanding of the emotional and physical supports required in palliative care.
Our palliative care nurses can support you and your family to manage the physical emotional and spiritual aspects of terminal illness with skill, dignity and respect.
We can support you with:
- 24/7 in-home nursing
- Medication management
- End-of-life care
Our team can also help you navigate the different funding options available for in-home palliative care.
If you or a loved one needs palliative care and would like to explore in-home options, please call us on 1300 201 351.
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Disclaimer
All information is general in nature. Patients should consider their own personal circumstances and seek a second opinion.
References:
Sources, links and date of access. Scientific references only required for large medical device or if specifically requested.
[1] Palliative care services in Australia, About – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au)
[2] How to get palliative care | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
[3] Better access to palliative care at home; 2024 Federal Budget is the next step – Palliative Care Australia
