Palliative care
3-minute read
Palliative care aims to give the best possible quality of life to someone who is seriously ill and expected to die. It helps people live their life as fully and as comfortably as possible.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is an attempt to look after all the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of someone with a serious illness that cannot be cured.
It does not mean the end of all treatment. It means making choices about which treatments are important, and which are not.
People can receive palliative care in almost all places where health care is provided, such as hospitals and general practices, as well as in specialist centres such as hospices, and in their own homes. Most people are cared for by their own doctor in partnership with other specialists and community palliative care nurses, in close cooperation from family and friends.
In some cases specialist palliative care services are involved, mainly for people with complicated or severe conditions.
Many palliative care services provide specific support not only for the person who is dying, but also for families and carers.
Choices
It is important to understand what palliative care can offer and the range of services available. This will allow you to make better decisions about what kind of care is suitable, where to have it, and when to make a change.
Even if you are undergoing active treatment, you can still benefit from palliative care. It’s a good idea to discuss the options with your doctor. If you have advanced disease, it’s important to discuss your prognosis, wishes, values and end of life planning with your doctor.
When someone is nearing the end of their life and comes to a hospital department such as emergency or intensive care, it’s important for them and their family to have a clear plan of the goals of care, as well as their wishes around medical treatment, so this can be discussed with the doctors.
For further information about palliative care recommendations speak to your General Practitioner or visit the Choosing Wisely Australia website.
Finding services
Your doctor, community health centre, or local health department can provide information on palliative care and other relevant care services.
Palliative care services
- See state and territory specific palliative care associations.
- The Palliative Care Australia directory of services can assist you to find specialist and other palliative care services in your local area.
National and state resources
There are a range of national resources and state resources for people receiving palliative care and their carers. These government and non-government services relate to medical, financial and psychosocial support.
You can also visit the PalliAGED website for information on palliative care and end of life care and services for older Australians.
Disease-specific resources
Information from disease-specific organisations.
Are you a carer or helping someone out?
Carers are everyday people who provide unpaid and ongoing care and support to someone they know who has a disability, mental illness, drug or alcohol dependency, chronic condition, terminal illness or who is frail.
Support for carers
Find practical information and useful resources for carers on Carer Gateway. You can also learn more about carers' support and services in your state or territory through Carers Australia.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: March 2019
Recommended links
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Palliative care and planning for the end of life(opens in a new window)
carergateway.gov.au -
Palliative care recommendations(opens in a new window)
choosingwisely.org.au
Need more information?
These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
Top results
Welcome to Palliative Care | Palliative Care
Welcome to Palliative Care
Read more on Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services website

About the National Palliative Care Services Directory - Palliative Care
Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is the peak national body for palliative care
Read more on Palliative Care Australia website

Palliative Care Self Assessment (PaCSA) Online Portal - Palliative Care
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Read more on Palliative Care Australia website

Palliative care in the NT - NT.GOV.AU
Territory Palliative Care services, contact information and palliative care resources.
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Palliative care is specialised care and support provided for someone living with a life-limiting illness. You can access databases to help you find a specialist palliative care service near you. Other types of services are also included in the database.
Read more on CareSearch website

End of Life Archives - Palliative Care
Australian Capital Territory The ACT Paediatric Palliative Care Service is a nursing-led service based at Paediatrics at The Canberra Hospital
Read more on Palliative Care Australia website

Top results
I’m a Health Professional - Palliative Care
Palliative Care Australia is the national peak body for palliative care and represents all those who work towards high quality palliative care for all Australians.
Read more on Palliative Care Australia website

Working Together - ELDAC
The Working Together Toolkit has been created to help you establish partnerships between aged, primary and palliative care services to provide the best possible palliative care and advance care planning for older persons in your care. It takes you through the processes to develop and implement a mutually beneficial and sustainable partnership.
Read more on End of Life Directions for Aged Care ELDAC website

ELDAC- Information and Services - Diverse Population Groups
Older Australians are from many different backgrounds, so each person will express their identity in different ways. Older diverse Australians often face barriers in accessing palliative care services.
Read more on End of Life Directions for Aged Care ELDAC website

Timeline
Timeline
Read more on palliAGED website

Pharmacovigilance in palliative care | Issue 6 | Volume 37 | Australian Prescriber
Patients receiving palliative care are at high risk of adverse effects from drugs. As these effects can be difficult to distinguish from the symptoms of the...
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Models of Care
Research & evidence summary on models of palliative care delivery & services in aged care.
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Costs and Economics
Research & evidence summary on palliative care costs & funding in aged care.
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Models of Care - Synthesis
Detailed summary & identified gaps from research on the types of palliative care delivery & services models in aged care.
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Dignity and Quality of Life
Research & evidence summary on supporting the quality of life & dignity of older persons receiving palliative care in aged care.
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Care Coordination - Synthesis
Detailed summary & identified gaps from research on palliative care transition, coordination & referral for older people in aged care.
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