Australian Red Cross WA

Australian Red Cross WA

Palliative care helps people with any life-limiting illness manage symptoms and improve their quality of life. It also provides support for their family and carers.

Palliative care can include a range of support for the individual, their family, and carers including:

• relief of pain and other symptoms
• resources such as equipment for care at home
• help for families to talk about sensitive issues
• links to other services such as home help and financial support
• support for cultural needs and traditions
• support for emotional, social and spiritual concerns
• counselling and grief support
• referrals to respite care services.

Some of the common medical conditions of people needing palliative care include:

• cancer
• HIV/AIDS
• motor neurone disease
• muscular dystrophy
• multiple sclerosis
• end-stage dementia.

Palliative care settings and providers

Palliative care services can be provided in a range of settings including:

• the home
• hospices
• aged care homes
• hospitals
• palliative care units.

Palliative care can be provided by specialist palliative care teams or by doctors, nurses and carers using a palliative approach to their care.