Health service providers have a central role in ensuring patients and their families receive appropriate end of life care which responds to an individual’s needs and wishes.
End of life planning can help a patient who has a life-limiting illness determine what, if any, medical treatment they choose to have administered in the last years, months, weeks or days of their life. Options for end of life care can include palliative care and now, in Victoria, may also encompass Voluntary Assisted Dying for eligible patients.
Caring at Home Project
Latest statistics show 70 per cent of people want to die at home. However, most do not achieve this. If symptoms are well-controlled, the person is likely to be able to stay at home for longer and avoid unwanted hospital admissions.
The Victorian Government – via a grant from the End-of-life Ancillary Service grant program to palliative care charity Shannon’s Bridge – has funded additional caring@home packages for carers.
The package is effective and easy-to-use, gives peace of mind and provides a practical solution for families to control breakthrough symptoms at home, especially at a time which is extremely emotional for those involved.
Order or download caring@home resources