Palliative Care At Home Support Services

Palliative care is holistic care that aims to improve the quality of life of people living with a life-limiting illness. Palliative care manages pain and eases symptoms (symptom management) to ensure each individual’s quality of life is maintained. Palliative care works better if it is introduced earlier rather than later in the course of an illness.

A palliative approach aims to improve the quality of life of patients and individuals with a life-limiting illness and their families, by reducing their suffering through early identification, assessment and treatment of pain, physical, cultural, psychological, social, and spiritual needs.

Palliative Care Pathways, for those living with an incurable illness, are developed to improve the end of life care of all patients. Pathways do not take the place of impeccable assessment or re-assessment as a patient’s condition will always change.

To have received palliative care, you would need to have a care pathway, which is a document that guides the steps needed to provide high-quality care to your loved one in the last days of their life.

We offer in-home palliative care services throughout Sydney and much of New South Wales.

To find out if we can offer in-home palliative care in your area, get in touch via our website or give us a call on 02 9343 0880.

How we can help

Care For Family understands how to provide aged care and in-home care specialising in personalised palliative care, which will be tailored, to each individual and their palliative care issues.

We offer the same level of expertise and support you would receive in a hospital or hospice and are an approved Palliative Care Australia provider. An experienced clinical team will deliver the highest level of flexible, unique quality care to support each client and your loved ones in the privacy and comfort of your own home.

This care is reviewed regularly, ensuring that the changing and challenging needs of your loved ones are met. We will work with your chosen health care workers and medical team, be them a geriatrician, general practitioner or any other relevant medical professionals to ensure your loved one receives the most expert care.

Our palliative care nurses have developed special skills in caring for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families through experience and training. All of our specialist palliative care nurses have high-level skills, postgraduate level education and several years experience in palliative care.

Care For Family was founded on the belief that in-home care services should be available to everyone, at all life stages, at an affordable price. Because of this belief, we offer a free, no-obligation in-home assessment and consultation to discuss and tailor an in-home respite care solution for you and your loved one.

We understand that remaining at home, surrounded by memories and in a familiar routine, is important for the happiness and wellbeing of those receiving care. That’s why we offer a wide range of options for in-home palliative care to ensure your loved one can remain in their own home, in familiar surroundings.

Do I need an advance care plan?

Advance care planning helps the people close to you know what is important to you about the level of healthcare and quality of life you would want if, for some reason, you are unable to participate in the discussions.

Discussing and writing down your wishes for future care will help the person you choose as your medical treatment decision maker to feel more comfortable about the decisions they make on your behalf.

Are you able to provide palliative care in my own home?

Do you or someone you love, have a serious illness? If so, you may be sick of trips to the emergency room and unwanted hospital stays to treat pain, shortness of breath or other symptoms. Palliative care can be provided safely at home.

At CFF we can offer the same level of expertise and support you would receive in a hospice or at a hospital. Palliative care at home gives one more options and greater choices, having the comfort and privacy that only your own home can offer.

We understand the challenges of supporting a loved one with a life-threatening illness and understand that this is a difficult time. Our experienced care professionals will give clients the opportunity to spend the last stages of their illness in their own home surrounded by their loved ones in their familiar surroundings.

Can you provide care with a palliative approach?

A palliative approach to care aims to improve the quality of life for clients with life-limiting illness and to support their families. The usual time to start a palliative approach is when treatments given to cure a condition are no longer working or when the client chooses to stop their curative treatments.

The focus of a palliative approach is on comfort and maintaining or improving quality of life so that the loved one can live as well as possible until they die in an atmosphere of care and support preferably in their own home.

How will the nurses and care professionals recognise when my loved one is close to dying and what processes would be in place for this to support them and us?

There are certain signs in the last few weeks, days and sometimes hours of life that indicate when someone is preparing to die. Recognising what these are will help you to say those important goodbyes and prepare yourself for what is to come. Speaking to health professionals in advance will help you to recognize what is happening to your loved one.

Everyone’s experience is different. Generally, though people with a terminal condition make gradual adjustments to the way they live. Most keep hope alive. Everyone’s journey is one they have to make as an individual and you as their loved one or care professional can help by supporting and listening.

Your loved one’s health condition may have changed but they are still the same person. Health professionals will help manage their symptoms and side effects and can also help with emotional wellbeing for the person, their family and carers.

Will I get the medicines I need if things change suddenly and how long will it take?

This is where the advanced care plan can be helpful and discussions with your medical team about medication to relieve symptoms such as pain and anxiety A prescription is appropriate when symptoms become distressing for the patient when they are in the last stages of life.

A number of drugs are prescribed, and the choice depends on patient preference, the severity of symptoms and the ability of the patient to take the medicine. Medicines can be prescribed for the initial management of agitation and anxiety.