End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life.
End of life care should help you to live as well as possible until you die and to die with dignity. During your care assessment we will ask you(or your representative) about your wishes and preferences, and take these into account as we work with you to plan your care. We will also support your family, carers or other people who are important to you.
You have the right to express your wishes about where you would like to receive care and where you want to die. We are here to support you should you wish to die surrounded by your familiar surroundings in your own home.
People who are approaching the end of life are entitled to high-quality care, wherever they’re being cared for. We will ensure you receive this from our compassionate and well trained care support workers.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is not just for the end of life – you may receive palliative care earlier in your illness, while you are still receiving other therapies to treat your condition.
When does end of life care begin?
End of life care should begin when you need it and may last a few days, or for months or years.
People in lots of different situations can benefit from end of life care. Some of them may be expected to die within the next few hours or days. Others receive end of life care over many months.
People are considered to be approaching the end of life when they are likely to die within the next 12 months, although this is not always possible to predict. This includes people whose death is imminent, as well as people who:
- have an advanced incurable illness, such as cancer, dementia or motor neurone disease
- are generally frail and have co-existing conditions that mean they are expected to die within 12 months
- have existing conditions if they are at risk of dying from a sudden crisis in their condition
- have a life-threatening acute condition caused by a sudden catastrophic event, such as an accident or stroke
If you would like to discuss your or your loved one’s needs further please contact us for a no obligation informal assessment