Caring at the end of life

Even if you’ve been providing care for a person for years, the last few weeks and days of their life can be hard.

How to plan for the end of life

You don’t have to do everything alone. Support is available and planning for the end of life might help you to cope better and make important decisions.

Caring for someone at the end of their life can be mainly about making them comfortable. You can care for someone in their home, in a hospital, a hospice or an aged care home. You can talk with your doctor about the best option for you and the person you care for. If the person you care for is in a hospital or an aged care home, you can talk with the staff about the best option.

You should also think about what you may need to do to prepare for a death at home, or what legal duties you might have.

What to ask your doctor

Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions, or to ask for more details. You can ask:

• What can we expect in the time ahead?
• What do I say to the person I care for?
• Where will the person get medical treatment?
• What treatments and medicines will be involved?
• Will the person have palliative care, and how will it work?
• What help can I get?
• Do I need to plan anything now before the person dies?
• What will happen after the person dies?