Palliative, or end of life care, is specialised medical care for people with serious or terminal illnesses such as a type of dementia or advanced cancer. The support focuses on providing relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a serious illness – keeping you as comfortable as possible. The ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their families and friends whilst reducing the emotional effects of illnesses.
Palliative care can involve:
- Personal care and assisted living such as assistance with bathing, dressing and toileting
- Continence care, whether it is changing continence pads or managing a stoma or catheter
- Medication support including prompts or administering medication, even the more complex prescriptions
- Support with pain management
- Help moving around the home, whether it is gentle support or hoisted transfers
- Assisted living through housekeeping duties such as vacuuming, dusting, changing beds or doing the laundry
- Preparing meals to your tastes, and washing up afterwards
- Caring for your pet including feeding and walking
- Running errands to collect prescriptions or food shopping
- Companionship and supporting your independent living at home
We also place some of our carers under a training programme specially built around administering palliative and end-of-life practices. The carers that are put through this additional programme have had previous experience in working to deliver high-quality palliative care.
