Palliative care at home: what to expect

Palliative care at home provides a person with access to care following the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. This includes pain and symptom management as well as emotional and practical support.

Within this blog, we take a closer look at palliative care at home and what to expect.

At the Nursing Guild, we offer palliative care services at home to people in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland. Our palliative care team supports those affected by a life-limiting or terminal illness. We can step in at any time – for short periods, in an emergency, or to provide longer-term care.

Who provides palliative care at home?

Palliative care, sometimes known as supportive care, is the medical, physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual support available to anyone after the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness. It goes beyond the medical management of the illness, although at its heart is good symptom and pain control.

Palliative care at home is provided by a range of healthcare professionals working together as a multi-disciplinary team (MDT). The team can include:

• GP – a GP will prescribe medicines and provide advice, referrals, and contacts across the care community.
• Nurses – available to support at home, nurses will manage symptoms, support with adjustments that are needed, help and advise on personal care, monitor pain, and provide emotional support. They’ll also support families, giving updates and answering any questions that they have.
• Occupational therapists – they will check a person’s ability to do everyday tasks, such as walking up and down stairs, washing, and getting dressed. They can then arrange any home adaptations that are needed.
• Physiotherapists – a physiotherapist will keep a person as mobile as possible and recommend gentle exercises to improve mobility and movement in the hands, arms, and any affected joints.
• Healthcare assistants (HCAs) – these professionals will help support with daily life, including washing, dressing, and checking medicines are taken. They may also provide some care, including wound care, taking blood, insulin administration, and catheterisation.
• Social workers – social workers will help to source the right support and access services, which could be related to housing, debt, income, and employment.

When is someone offered palliative care at home?

Palliative care at home is usually offered when a person is diagnosed with a condition that can’t be cured and is life-limiting. It is available at any stage of a terminal (life-shortening) illness and includes end-of-life care.

Diseases for which someone might be offered palliative care at home include cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease, or chronic heart disease. It can be provided for a short time, or over many years from when the illness is first diagnosed.

Having palliative care at home avoids lengthy hospital stays or readmission and it’s available for as long as it’s needed.

More information is available in our blog, ‘When should someone be offered palliative care’.

What does palliative care at home involve?

The palliative care one person needs at home may differ from someone else – it will depend on their care plan and needs. It’s a personalised form of care that focuses on maintaining your quality of life.

Palliative care at home can include everything from help with daily tasks, such as washing or dressing, to symptom relief and pain control. It’s a package of holistic care that looks to support someone’s wellbeing. Sometimes referred to as ‘hospice at home care’ or ‘supportive care’, these are helpful everyday descriptions of what palliative care offers. It’s about helping a person to get on with their life, not about treating their illness – although that might continue via outpatient appointments.

What equipment is needed for palliative care at home?

The equipment needed varies from person to person, depending on their health and the stage of the illness. If you or a loved one decides to get palliative care at home, an occupational therapist will visit to see what adaptations are needed to stay safe.

They may advise on having a ramp to gain access to the front door, grab handles to assist with walking and avoid falls, a walking frame or Zimmer, a hospital-style (adjustable) bed with a pressure relieving mattress, a hoist, a commode, a wheelchair, and other aids to help in the bathroom and kitchen.

How do you pay for palliative care?

Funding arrangements for palliative care are complex. Some care may be funded through the NHS, some through the local authority, some via hospices (through their ‘hospice at home’ service), or other charities. Private palliative care is also available if you decide that care is needed over and above the council-assessed needs.

Palliative care with the Nursing Guild

At the Nursing Guild, we’ve been providing palliative care services at home to people living in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland since 1995. We are fully regulated by the Care Inspectorate in Scotland and the RQIA in Ireland, with the highest rating for our services.

Our specialist palliative care nurses are available at short notice to support people facing an emergency, individuals wanting to be quickly discharged from hospital, or needing top-up support over and above the care provided by their local authority. Whether you are looking for short-term support or a longer-term care package, we’ll be there for you.

If you need a specialist nurse or healthcare assistant now, get in touch. We’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and every week of the year.