Damon Mcknight
Palliative Care Australia has been promoting quality palliative care since 1991. Palliative care is person and family-centred care provided for people with an active, progressive, advanced disease, who have little or no prospect of cure and are expected to die. It helps people live their life as fully and as comfortably as possible when living with a life-limiting or terminal illness. It is provided in many healthcare settings, including hospitals, hospices, and community-based services. Palliative care is not the same as end-of-life care, which is typically provided in the last few weeks of life, although end-of-life care is an important part of palliative care.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Palliative care is person and family-centred care provided for a person with an active, progressive, advanced disease, who has little or no prospect of cure and who is expected to die. |
| Goal | To optimise the quality of life of the patient and their family. |
| Target Group | People of any age with a serious, life-limiting or terminal illness that cannot be cured. |
| Illnesses | Cancer, motor neurone disease, end-stage kidney or lung disease. |
| Start Time | It can start anytime after diagnosis. |
| Duration | It can be provided for years. |
| Location | Home, hospital, hospice, aged care home. |
| Caregivers | Doctors, health centres, health departments, Palliative Care Australia directory of services, palliative care teams. |
| End-of-Life Care | An important part of palliative care, it is the last few weeks of life in which a patient is rapidly approaching death. |
| Patients in 2023 | 70,100 |
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What You'll Learn
Palliative care is person and family-centred
Palliative care identifies and treats symptoms that may be physical, emotional, spiritual, or social. It is based on individual needs, so the services offered will differ. For example, palliative care can involve the relief of pain and other symptoms such as vomiting and shortness of breath. It is a family-centred model of care, meaning family and carers can receive practical and emotional support. This support can help families deal with their loved one's diagnosis and provide bereavement care when the patient passes away.
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of an illness, from the time of diagnosis with a serious life-limiting illness to the end of life. It is not the same as end-of-life care, which is typically provided in the last few weeks of life when the patient is imminently dying. However, end-of-life care is an important part of palliative care. Palliative care can be provided for years if needed and does not necessarily mean that death is imminent.
Palliative care can be received in almost all places where healthcare is provided, including at home, in hospitals, hospices, or residential aged care homes. It is available for people of all ages, including children and young people, and can be accessed through doctors, community health centres, or local health departments. The Australian Government subsidises residential aged care services for older Australians who can no longer live in their own homes.
In Australia, government agencies, private bodies, and not-for-profit organisations deliver palliative care in various healthcare settings, including specialist inpatient and community-based services.
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It is for people with a serious, life-limiting illness
Palliative care in Australia is for people of any age with a serious, life-limiting illness. It is person and family-centred care, provided for a person with an active, progressive, advanced disease, who has little or no prospect of cure and who is expected to die. The primary goal of palliative care is to optimise the quality of life of the patient and their family. It helps people live their lives as fully and as comfortably as possible when living with a life-limiting or terminal illness.
Palliative care identifies and treats symptoms that may be physical, emotional, spiritual, or social. It is based on individual needs, so the services offered will differ. They may include the relief of pain and other symptoms such as vomiting and shortness of breath. Palliative care also supports the family and friends of the patient, offering them practical and emotional support.
It is important to note that palliative care is not the same as end-of-life care. While end-of-life care is an important part of palliative care, it is the specific phase of care in the last few weeks of life when the patient is rapidly approaching death. Palliative care can be received at almost any stage of an illness, even if the patient is undergoing active treatment. It can be provided in a variety of places, including the patient's home, a hospital, a hospice, or an aged care facility.
Palliative care can be provided alongside other treatments and by different doctors. It does not necessarily indicate that death is imminent, and patients can receive palliative care for years if needed. The palliative care team can include many health professionals to help the patient and their family manage the illness.
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It is provided in many healthcare settings
Palliative care is provided in many healthcare settings in Australia, including hospitals, hospices, and residential aged care homes. It can also be provided at home, with the support of community health centres or local health departments. The Australian Government subsidises residential aged care services for older Australians who can no longer live in their homes.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reports that in 2023, there were 70,100 patients receiving palliative care from 200 palliative care services participating in the Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration (PCOC) program. Of these episodes, 93% commenced within two days of patients being ready for palliative care.
Palliative care is also available in public or private hospitals, where patients undergo a formal admission process to receive treatment and/or care. This includes surgical care, medical care, intensive care, newborn care, rehabilitation care, and mental health care, in addition to palliative care.
In Australia, government agencies, private organisations, and not-for-profit bodies deliver palliative care in various healthcare settings. However, identifying palliative care services and recipients remains a challenge, especially in community, primary care, and residential aged care settings. This information is crucial for understanding service use and planning.
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It is not the same as end-of-life care
Palliative care is not the same as end-of-life care. While palliative care can ultimately involve end-of-life care, they are distinct concepts. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of an illness, even while other treatments are being administered. It is not restricted to the final few weeks of life, as is the case with end-of-life care.
Palliative care is a specialised support system for people with serious illnesses. It is a person and family-centred model of care, meaning that family and carers can receive practical and emotional support. It identifies and treats symptoms that may be physical, emotional, spiritual, or social. It aims to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family.
End-of-life care, on the other hand, is the care given to people and their families who are facing the end of their lives. It is an important part of palliative care, but it is not the entirety of it. End-of-life care involves bringing together a range of health professionals to help individuals live out their final days as comfortably as possible. This care can be provided at home, in a hospital, a hospice, or a residential aged care home.
Palliative care can be provided for years if needed and does not necessarily mean that death is imminent. It is tailored to the individual, depending on their illness and needs. It is designed to help people live as fully and comfortably as possible with a life-limiting or terminal illness.
In Australia, the Government-funded My Aged Care program acts as the primary entry point to the country's aged care system. It provides funding for aged care services and often serves as an access point for those requiring palliative care and end-of-life care.
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It is based on individual needs
Palliative care in Australia is based on individual needs. It is a person and family-centred model of care, meaning that family and carers can receive practical and emotional support. It is provided for a person with an active, progressive, advanced disease, with little or no prospect of cure, and who is expected to die.
The aim of palliative care is to help people live their lives as fully and as comfortably as possible when living with a life-limiting or terminal illness. It identifies and treats symptoms that may be physical, emotional, spiritual, or social. As such, the services offered will differ depending on the individual's needs. For example, palliative care may involve the relief of pain and other symptoms such as vomiting or shortness of breath.
Palliative care can be provided at any stage of an illness and can be received for years if needed. It is not the same as end-of-life care, which is usually provided in the last few weeks of life. However, end-of-life care is an important part of palliative care.
Palliative care can be provided in a variety of settings, including at home, in hospital, in a hospice, or in a residential aged care home. It is available to people of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.
In Australia, government agencies, private organisations, and not-for-profit bodies deliver palliative care in many healthcare settings, including specialist inpatient and community-based services. The Australian Government subsidises residential aged care services for older Australians who can no longer live in their homes.
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Frequently asked questions
Palliative care is person and family-centred care provided for a person with an active, progressive, advanced disease, who has little or no prospect of cure and who is expected to die. The goal of palliative care is to optimise the quality of life of the patient and their family.
Palliative Care Australia is an organisation that has been promoting quality palliative care since 1991. It is located in Canberra.
Palliative care identifies and treats symptoms which may be physical, emotional, spiritual or social. The services offered will differ based on individual needs and may include relief from pain, vomiting, and shortness of breath.
Palliative care can be provided in almost all places where healthcare is administered, including at home, in hospitals, hospices, or aged care facilities.
In Australia, government agencies, as well as private and not-for-profit bodies, deliver palliative care. The palliative care team can include many health professionals such as doctors, nurses, and social workers.
