Many people think palliative care is only for the very end of life. But it helps you live as fully and comfortably as possible when you have a serious illness that can’t be cured. You can start it at any time, although earlier is better.
It can be beneficial for people living with:
- Lung cancer
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)
- Silicosis.
It helps manage symptoms, improves communication, helps with care decisions, and supports your family. You can get it at home, in aged care, a hospital or a hospice. It works with your other treatments and healthcare team. Palliative care supports you, your family and carers.
Accessing palliative care
If you’re considering palliative care, the first step is to talk with your current healthcare team, including your GP and any specialists you see. If they agree that palliative care might be right for you, they can refer you to palliative care services. Your doctor will often write a letter outlining your diagnosis, current medications and any other relevant information. This ensures the palliative care service can provide the most appropriate and personalised care for you.
Your palliative care team
Your palliative care team is a group of health professionals who work with your treatment team to provide an extra layer of support. They each bring a range of skills to help you manage your illness.
Your palliative care team can include:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Social workers
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational and speech therapists
- Pain management specialists
- Psychologists
- Dietitians
- Pastoral care
- Trained volunteers
Benefits of palliative care
The help you get from palliative care will depend on what you need. The benefits can include:
- Easing pain and other symptoms
- Managing your medications
- Getting advice on food and sleep
- Checking your home to make it easier to move around in
- Providing counselling for you and your family
- Connecting you with help at home and money support
- Helping with emotional and social changes
- Supporting your family with grief support
- Finding respite care
It’s for carers and family too
Caring for someone through a terminal diagnosis is challenging, and it’s important that your carers and your family’s needs are met so they can continue to best support you.
Palliative care can support your family and carers by:
- Increasing access to services when your condition worsens
- Counselling and guidance support
- Grief and bereavement support.
If you haven’t yet, but are considering to tell your family or carers about your diagnosis, you can read some of the different considerations and what to expect in our blog.
Advanced care planning
Advanced care planning helps you consider your wishes and preferences for future healthcare. An advanced care directive is a way to formally write these down. It helps your family and doctors know what you want.
It’s important to ensure your opinion and choices are heard during end-of-life care. An advanced care directive can help relieve some of the pressure and stress from your family if they have to make difficult decisions on your behalf.
Advanced care directives can vary depending on which Australian state or territory you live in. It’s important to discuss advanced care with your treating healthcare team early in your diagnosis so you can make confident and informed decisions. Read more on our blog about some of the important conversations to have when planning for the final stages of your life.
Resources
Helpful links
- Carer Help
- PalAssist
- Palliative Care Australia
- Questions to ask your palliative care team resource
- Find a service provider
- Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
State-based palliative care
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
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