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This week sees National Palliative Care Week take place, with this year’s theme ‘What matters most?’, aimed at making people think about what they really want for themselves and their family in a palliative care situation.
Held between May 20 and May 26, National Palliative Care Week is a national week supported by the Department of Health to raise awareness and understanding about palliative care in the Australian community.
Palliative care can range cover a wide range of situations, however, generally it is care that is aimed at ensuring people live their life to the full and are as comfortable as possible when faced with a life limiting or terminal illness.
Palliative care services can often differ given they are based on individual circumstances and needs including physical, emotional, spiritual or social concerns.
Palliative Care Australia advises that care is for people of any age who have been told that they have a serious illness that cannot be cured. They assist people with illnesses such as cancer, motor neurone disease and end-stage kidney or lung disease to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
There are many people involved with an individual’s palliative care including family, friends local GP’s, specialists, and aged care workers. Each person involved plays a vital role in someone’s care.
A major advantage of palliative care is that it can be provided where the person and their family want, wherever it is possible. Options include:
- At home
- At a family member’s or friends home
- In hospital
- In a residential aged care facility
- In a hospice
This year’s National Palliative Care Week theme addresses the need for Australians to plan ahead for their end-of-life care and discuss it with their loved ones and health professionals.
Palliative Care Australia has several key messages that they are trying to educate the community about including:
- Palliative care is care that helps people live their life to the fullest when living with a life limiting or terminal illness.
- Palliative care is available to all people with a serious illness and their families, to assist in managing their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
- Everyone’s priorities at the end of life will be slightly different. By sharing what matters most to you, you will be more likely to receive the kind of care and treatments you desire.
- People should be proactive and tell their care team about what matters most to them, so their treatment can be aligned with their goals.
For more information about palliative care options and support, visit http://palliativecare.org.au/
