Palliative Care and End of Life Care: What You Need to Know

Palliative care was once seen as synonymous with the end of life care and was only offered to people whose treatment options had been exhausted. Palliative care was thought to be something only needed once the person was considered to be reaching the end of their life. 

Fortunately, palliative care is now seen as a broad, complex type of care that includes but is not limited to end of life care. It is often provided for people who are continuing to receive treatment and therapies, to allow a better quality of life and ensure they are as comfortable and supported as possible. 

Thanks to modern medical advancements, as well as declining birth rates, Australia and many other parts of the world are now experiencing rapid population ageing. This is largely attributable to increased life expectancy, which has seen a significant increase in the proportion of Australians aged 65 and over. Living longer is an amazing privilege and advantage of living in a country with a comprehensive healthcare system, however, it does come with its own complications. 

Australia’s ageing population has been accompanied by an increased prevalence of cancer and other chronic or life-limiting conditions that are associated with ageing. This has presented new challenges for the health care sector to contend with, including the need to rethink the concept of palliative care.

What Is Palliative Care?

Palliative care describes any treatment, care services or support offered to a person with a life-limiting illness. Life-limiting illnesses are typically those that are unlikely to be cured and are likely to cause the affected person’s death. Examples include cancer, end-stage kidney disease and some motor neuron diseases.

Palliative care is sometimes referred to as ‘supportive’ care and is complementary to the individual’s treatment or therapy plan. Palliative care teams are made up of a range of multidisciplinary healthcare professionals, both specialists and generalists, which can include:

• General Practitioners
• Geriatricians
• Physicians
• Oncologists
• Paediatricians
• Renal specialists
• Cardiologists
• Endocrinologists
• Other specialists. 
• Nurses
• Allied health professionals
• Pharmacists. 

No two people will have an identical experience of palliative care, and the types of care provided will depend on what the life-limiting condition is, the prognosis and the other types of treatment or therapies being provided.

Palliative care aims to take care of the body, mind and spirit, and also includes taking care of the individual’s family, friends and caregivers. Supporting a loved one with a life-limiting illness takes an enormous toll on the entire family’s physical, emotional, mental and social health. Palliative care plans are tailored to the unique needs and situation of the individual, so there is no fixed suite of care services. However, common types of palliative care can include:

• Assistance with pain relief and management 
• Managing or alleviating other symptoms e.g. nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, shortness of breath, muscle weakness
• Providing equipment to support care delivery in the home
• Professional support for families to discuss sensitive topics such as end-of-life planning and care
• Support to understand and plan the next phases of treatment or illness management
• Referrals and links to other services such as domestic assistance or financial support
• Assistance with meeting cultural requirements 
• Counselling and other support for spiritual or emotional challenges
• Grief support services including counselling
• Assistance for caregivers, including referrals or advice about respite care.

What Is the Difference Between Palliative Care and End of Life Care?

Palliative care is any type of support or care service that helps achieve a better quality of life for a person with a life-limiting illness and their loved ones. It can be provided at any time during their healthcare journey, alongside continued treatment and therapies. A person does not have to be nearing the end of their life to receive palliative care.

End of life care is one type of palliative care that particularly focuses on making an individual as comfortable as possible when they are nearing the end of their life. End of life care often begins when a person is expected to die within a year or so, although this is hard to predict and sometimes is only introduced in the final few weeks of life.

Palliative Care at Home

Palliative care is delivered in a wide range of settings, including hospitals, community-based specialist facilities, inpatient facilities, hospices, and residential aged care facilities. Some people also choose to receive palliative care services from the comfort of their own homes. 

Home palliative care may not be suitable for everyone, depending on the complexity and level of care required. However, for people whose palliative care needs can be effectively managed at home, there may be some benefits for the individual as well as their family, friends and caregivers. Having a qualified, trained professional in the home can provide a greater sense of safety and comfort, and provide a reassuring familiar environment at a time when so much is changing. Home palliative care can also take some of the pressure off caregivers, by reducing the need to travel to and from treatment centres to visit and support the loved one receiving care.

When appropriate, home-based palliative care can also have economic advantages. Home palliative care reduces the costs of palliative care associated with staying in hospitals, residential aged care or other specialist palliative care settings. Most people, given a choice, would prefer to die at home surrounded by their loved ones. Palliative care provided at home or in home-like community settings can enable a higher health-related quality of life whilst also providing cost-effectiveness. 

How Homage Can Help You or a Loved One With Palliative Care at Home

At Homage, we pride ourselves on providing the utmost quality of care to our clients and their loved ones. Our team of passionate, empathetic and experienced Care Professionals can help you or someone close to you to have the best quality of life possible. We will work with you to design a holistic, comprehensive palliative care plan so you can live with dignity from the comfort of your home. We offer flexible, tailored support ranging from just one hour to around-the-clock support. Our services for individuals with life-limiting conditions include:

• Simple nursing procedures
• Complex nursing care including wound management and injections 
• Medical escort to assist transport to and from home and medical appointments
• Light housekeeping to assist with household chores and cleaning
• Personal care to assist with activities of daily living (ADLs): eating, bathing, getting dressed, toileting, transferring, and continence
• Night care to assist with toileting or nursing needs, prevent wandering and reduce fall risk
• Respite care to give loved ones and caregivers the chance to rest and recharge

No request is too big or too small to discuss with us, so if you or a loved one needs compassionate, professional, respectful care to manage a life-limiting condition, call us on 0480 093 788 or request your free, no-obligation care consult via our website.

Types of Support to Consider During Palliative Care

Caring for someone who has an illness that severely limits their ability to live a normal life is complex, emotionally demanding and often confusing. On top of managing all their usual medical care, you will need to liaise with a wide range of specialists that make up the palliative care team. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, but there is no need to handle it all alone. There are lots of options to consider to support you and your loved ones to navigate the complicated world of palliative and end of life care. 

In 2021, the Australian Government announced that they would invest $56 million into improving outcomes for Australians receiving palliative and end of life care. This funding is largely directed to Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to support the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care measure. This additional funding will support the existing hard work of organisations that are here to support you with the palliative care process and ensure a coordinated, comprehensive and tailored approach to palliative care. 

Financial Advice and Assistance

Palliative and end of life care can bring up a lot of sensitive and difficult topics – such as planning for the financial future of family members who will survive the individual with the life-limiting illness. 

Managing the expenses and costs of palliative care is just one aspect of the financial consideration. You also need to consider the current and future financial needs of the family who will remain once the individual in care has died. Some useful places to get financial information and advice include:

• Services Australia. The Australian Government can provide financial support to people caring for someone with a disability, who is frailly aged or who lives with a serious medical condition (such as a life-limiting condition). You may be eligible for supplementary Carer Payments if you provide constant care, or a fortnightly Carer Allowance if you provide additional care to someone who needs it. Depending on your eligibility, which often includes a means-test or income test, you may receive both of these payments at the same time. You may also be eligible for an annual Carer Supplement to help support the costs of caring for a loved one with a serious medical condition.
• Withdrawing your superannuation early. Laws that govern superannuation in Australia permit you or a loved one to withdraw your super funds early if you can demonstrate that you have an illness that is likely to be terminal. These funds can be used to plan for your future care needs or to establish ongoing support for your family once the individual in palliative care has passed away. 
• Money Smart hotline. MoneySmart is a financial advice and counselling service designed to help you take charge of your finances. They can assist you with budgeting, finding payments you may be eligible for, and understanding the costs of your care. Their website has a range of useful tools, calculators and information. You can also find a financial counsellor in your area to help you manage your specific concerns.

Counselling and Mental Health Support

Facing the reality of our mortality, or that of someone near and dear to us, is extremely challenging. It is perfectly natural to experience feelings of grief, anxiety, depression or even frustration at the fact that your loved one is unlikely to fully recover. You may even feel guilty about the fact that you are still alive and well whilst the person you care for is nearing the end of their life. These feelings are all normal, but it is important to seek support so that your mental health does not continue to decline. The following resources can help support you in your caring role so that you have the energy to continue your important caring responsibilities:

• The Australian Psychological Society offers an online tool to help you find a mental health practitioner in your area that specialises in your concerns. 
• Beyond Blue offers a 24-hour counselling service via phone, email or online chat. They also provide useful information and resources about taking care of your mental health during tough times.
• Carer Gateway Counselling Service offers free counselling for carers on weekdays between 8 am and 6 pm. You can request a call back using their website, or speak to one of their team members by calling 1800 422 737 and selecting option 2.
• Suicide Call Back Service. 24-hour telephone and online counselling for people affected by suicide. 

Palliative Care Support for Carers: Looking After You While You Look After Someone Else

Caring is a rewarding, lifechanging experience that has many benefits – it often brings you and the person you care for closer and gives you a sense of fulfilment that you are improving the quality of life for someone you love. However, it is also challenging and carers are often at higher risk of burnout, fatigue and caregiver stress. Getting help in the form of respite care can be enormously helpful to give you a break so that you can come back recharged and ready to provide the best level of care for your loved one.

It can also be helpful to talk to someone who understands what you are going through, either by seeking mental health counselling or attending social support groups for carers. Carer Gateway is the Australian Government’s central source of information and emotional, practical and financial support for carers. They can support you in your caring role by offering peer support groups, counselling, online skills courses, coaching and other types of tailored support.

Need some assistance with care for yourself or your loved one? Find out how Homage can help!