Palliative Care Week ‘focuses on vital support role’
National Palliative Care Week (May 21-27) is a time to focus on the vital support role played by healthcare professionals, family members and carers in supporting local people in need of palliative care, according to the North Coast Area Health Service (NCAHS).
The NCAHS says more than 132,000 Australians die each year, about half from diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes or dementia. Approximately 20,000 people receive care from a specialist palliative care service.
“Palliative care is care provided for people of all ages who have a life-limiting illness, with little or no prospect of cure, and for whom the primary treatment goal is quality of life,” NCAHS said.
“Palliative care staff work closely with general practitioners and community nursing staff to provide care at home for patients. Because people tend to associate palliative care with dying, it can be a bit confronting when the service is mentioned, but it’s really about good quality of life.
“Dying is a first-time experience for everyone and so is looking after someone who is dying. The essence is to provide support, encouragement and information to patients and families.
“Palliative care teams endeavour to bring back a sense of control and calm to a family that is often in crisis. One aspect of this is helping families care for their loved ones at home rather than in hospital. Their role is to support both the patient and the family.
“The contribution to end-of-life care by carers, in particular the families, partners, sons and daughters of those who are dying, is considerable. Looking after someone who is dying would be the hardest thing any of us would have to do and palliative care in Australia today would be very different without this contribution.”
