Palliative care is specialist care for people living with an advanced or life-threatening illness. This may be from having a cancer diagnosis or chronic long term disease.
What we do
The primary goal of palliative care is to improve quality of life and to provide support to you and your family.
This includes controlling pain, ensuring you’re comfortable and responding to your needs and those that care for you. Those needs may be:
- Physical
- Psychological
- Social
- Cultural
- Spiritual
- Emotional
Provision of care and support will occur in the setting most suitable to your needs and wants. This could include: home, hospital or residential aged care.
Early contact with the Palliative Care team assists our nurses to better care for your needs.
Your doctor and the palliative care nurses will work together with you to look after your medical needs.
Who we care for
People with a terminal or chronic life limiting illness.
Commonly asked questions
What support can we access after Hours?
Out of hours telephone support by Caritas Christi Hospital in Melbourne. Your palliative care nurse will discuss this with you on admission.
What support is provided to assist being cared for at home?
- Palliative care nurses can visit you at home to help you manage any symptoms that you may be having.
- Equipment is available to support you and your family if required such as a wheelchair, shower chair or commode chair.
- Trained palliative care volunteers can offer you compassionate support such as listening and companionship.They can also support your carer and family and assist with transport, practical help and agreed social activities.
- Allied health services such as nutrition support and home modifications
When can I access this service?
The palliative care service is available to you at any time. For example, if you are having side effects from any treatment that you may be having which may be causing you distress.
