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End of life health
Coping with learning you have a terminal illness
This article provides advice on what to do if you need to talk to someone about your bad news, condition or how you are feeling.
Grief before death – understanding anticipatory grief
Find out how to cope with the news that someone you care for has a terminal illness.
Organ and tissue donation
Organ and tissue donation can help save lives. It is important that you decide whether to become a donor. Here's a list of frequently asked questions.
Palliative care
Palliative care is holistic care that aims to improve the quality of life of people who are dying. Read about the range of services available.
Talking about your terminal illness
Talking with your loved ones about your illness isn't always easy. Start a conversation with someone close to you by following these tips.
The physical process of dying
The end of life is different for everyone. Find out what happens in the weeks, days and hours before death, and immediately after someone has died.
When someone dies at home
Many people prefer to die in familiar surroundings. If you care for someone with a terminal illness, this article can help you prepare for the death.
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
At the End of Life
Are you caring for a parent or an older family member who is at the end of life? Find information to help you understand more and plan in palliAGED.
Read more on palliAGED website
Planning: end-of-life | Dementia Australia
Making end-of-life decisions We all hope to live a full and healthy life, reduce or avoid serious illness and disability, and – when the time comes – to die peacefully in our sleep. Unfortunately, this does not always happen! Many people will be sick for a number of months or years and have a gradual decline in their physical and mental functioning.
Read more on Dementia Australia website
End of life concerns | Cancer Institute NSW
There are many emotional and practical issues to deal with at the end of life.
Read more on Cancer Institute NSW website
Caring for someone nearing the end of life | Cancer Council Victoria
This page covers the practical, emotional and physical issues to expect and what you can do to provide comfort and support to someone facing end of life.
Read more on Cancer Council Victoria website
Information on end-of-life care for consumers | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
How should care be given at the end of life?
Read more on Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website
Resources - Culturally appropriate palliative care and end-of-life care - Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
Culturally appropriate palliative care and end-of-life care.
Read more on Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet website
Talking about end of life and planning ahead | MND Australia
Planning ahead involves thinking and talking about death and dying, and many people find these kinds of conversations uncomfortable or upsetting
Read more on MND Australia website
Common emotions at the end of their life
Read more on CarerHelp website
End of life and palliative care services - Better Health Channel
betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Caring for a person at the end of life in hospital during COVID-19
Read more on CarerHelp website
Top results
Communication at End of Life
Research & evidence summary on strategies for discussing end of life, palliative care, death & dying with older people & their families or carers.
Read more on palliAGED website
End of Life Law - ELDAC
The Legal Toolkit provides practical information about the law at end of life for the aged care sector. It contains useful resources on end of life legal issues commonly encountered in aged care to help you to know the law and to support your practice.
Read more on End of Life Directions for Aged Care ELDAC website
Communication at End of Life - Synthesis
Detailed summary & identified gaps from research on discussing end of life, palliative care, death & dying with older people in aged care & families/carers.
Read more on palliAGED website
End of Life Care in Australia | Ausmed
End-of-life care is the support available to terminally ill patients when they find themselves at the final stage of life. The significance of being able to provide compassionate care that eases the suffering of people in their last days cannot be overstated.
Read more on Ausmed Education website
Delivering and supporting comprehensive end-of-life care user guide | Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
Supporting the delivery of excellent end-of-life care is a part of delivering comprehensive care that aligns with the patient’s expressed goals of care and healthcare needs, considers the impact of the patient’s health issues on their life and wellbeing, and is clinically appropriate. It is important that care is provided continuously and collaboratively in line with their diagnoses and agreed goals of care. Their comprehensive care plan should reflect their individual preferences.
Read more on Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care website
Responding to Strong Emotions - Working with Patients, Carers and Families - Allied Health - Health Professionals
Managing emotions. Palliative and end-of-life care can be challenging as patients and families find themselves in new and different circumstances.
Read more on CareSearch website
Goals of Care
Research & evidence summary on strategies for setting palliative care goals & end of life planning with older people in aged care.
Read more on palliAGED website
Care of the Spirit - Clinical Considerations - Allied Health - Health Professionals
Why spirituality matters. At the end-of-life, people can question beliefs and values as well as how they have lived their life.
Read more on CareSearch website
Goals of Care - Synthesis
Detailed summary & identified gaps from research on strategies for setting palliative care goals & end of life planning with older people in aged care.
Read more on palliAGED website
About the palliAGED Practice Tip sheets
The palliAGED Practice Tip Sheets for Careworkers and Nurses have been developed to support people providing palliative care to older people approaching the end of life.
Read more on palliAGED website
