For people who are approaching the end of their life, preparing for it can be overwhelming. It's helpful to understand the type of care that is available, so that you know what best matches your values and preferences.
It's also important to let loved ones know your wishes, so the people who care for you can support you the way you want. Thinking about these things can help you prepare and make important decisions easier for you and your loved ones.
This page has steps and information that can help you plan end-of-life care.
On this page
Thinking about your preferences
A good place to start is to think about your health and personal care preferences. A few questions you can ask yourself are:
- Where would I like to receive care?
- Who would I like to provide my care?
- Who would I want to make decisions about my care if I wasn't able to?
Knowing what care is available
Support is available for older people nearing the end of their life, depending on their needs.
Knowing the differences between end-of-life care and palliative care helps you to understand your options.
Palliative care
Palliative care services provide clinical care that assists a person who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness to have the best quality of life. It also provides support for family and carers. Services can be provided in your own home, or in an aged care home, hospital, or a palliative care unit/hospice.
Palliative care services can start from the moment a person is diagnosed and can continue until death and beyond, with bereavement support for family and friends. It can be provided by health professionals, such as a GP, nurse, nurse practitioner, specialist, allied health professional, or aged care worker.
You don't have to be receiving aged care services to access palliative care services. Doctors, aged care providers, state or territory health departments and community health services can help you access it.
There are also specialised palliative care services to cater for diverse needs. For instance, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and LGBTI people.
For more information on services available in your local area, ask your GP, or contact the National Palliative Care Service Directory.
Read more about palliative care on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.
End-of-life care
End-of-life care is often provided for a shorter time period, in the last months of life, when health starts to worsen. It is care given to people at the end of their life and often brings together health professionals to help you stay as comfortable as possible.
Starting the conversation
Talking about end-of-life care is different for everyone, and some find it easier than others. But it's important to let those who care for you know your wishes.
A good idea is to prepare in advance and write down your values and preferences. Whether the conversation happens quickly or takes place over time, remember that there's no right or wrong way to pass on what matters to you.
Read more about tips to start the conversation.
Advance care planning
Advance care planning helps you think about your future medical treatment and health care needs. It also helps your family, friends, carers and doctors understand how you would like to be cared for. This is important whether you are receiving aged care services or not.
You may choose to give someone you trust an enduring power of attorney or enduring guardianship to make medical treatment and other decisions if you are no longer able to do so. The requirements for these vary from state to state. They must be made while you are still fully able to understand the action you are taking.
Read more about how to create an advance care plan and document your wishes.
Support for carers
If you are caring for someone who is nearing the end of their life, there is help and support available. Read more about caring for someone at the end of their life.
You may need to take a short break from time to time. Read more about how to access planned or emergency respite care.
When you spend most of your time looking after other people, it's easy to forget to look after yourself. There is a range of services available to support you. Learn more about caring for someone.
Additional information is available at CarerHelp.