Note: This action is only applicable if your healthcare service delivers end-of-life care.
End of life refers to the period when a patient is living with, and impaired by, a life-limiting condition, even if the trajectory is ambiguous or unknown. This period may be years in the case of patients with chronic or malignant disease, or very brief in the case of patients who suffer acute and unexpected illness or events, such as sepsis, stroke or trauma.
The health care that people receive in the last years, months and weeks of their lives can help to minimise the distress and grief associated with death and dying for the individual, and for their family, friends and carers. People living with a life-limiting illness have end-of-life care provided in many different settings – in their homes, acute hospitals, hospices (which may be community-based or led by tertiary facilities), general practices, specialist clinics, aged care facilities, and other organisations where people may be living (such as correctional facilities and locations caring for people living with severe mental illness or severe disabilities).
The National Consensus Statement: Essential elements for safe and high-quality end-of-life care describes guiding principles and essential elements of end-of-life care. Many of these are relevant to care delivered in primary and community healthcare settings.
Healthcare providers in primary and community healthcare settings have an important role to play in the delivery of care at the end of life, and there are increasing calls for allied health professionals to be involved in a multidisciplinary approach. Allied health professionals can help with symptom management including with nutrition, communication and mobility; help the person maintain function and independence, offer emotional support; share information about disease progression and help to plan future care; and help connect the person and families to support services.
The consensus statement describes triggers for recognising when patients are approaching the end of life. Considering the likelihood of a patient dying creates opportunities to identify their needs and preferences, review their goals and comprehensive care plan, and consider how best to align care with the individual’s expressed values and wishes. Routine use of simple trigger tools and questions can prompt clinicians to use their clinical judgement to make a holistic assessment of whether a patient has end-of-life care needs.
