In our sessions we have been touching on all the different words we use in this space and it does get confusing. What is interesting is that in Australia the words and way we use them to understand the needs of people who are approaching and reaching the end of
their life is changing. This is a reflection of the fact that we are increasingly focused on understanding the individual journeys people go on as they approach and reach the end of their life. We prioritise how we as a team can make
meaningful improvements in the quality of life for people, their families and their carers.
In the recent past we have
referred to palliative care as simply an approach to care but in Australia as systems of care have become more sophisticated
there is a need to be clearer about what services people require to support
them and their families, and who will provide that care. Dr Carmen Halton's discussion made this clear to us today.
A useful way of thinking
about this is using the following definitions:
•End
of life refers to that period of time when a
person is living with an advanced, progressive, life limiting illness. This is likely to be the last year of their
life. This timeframe is useful because
it allows enough time for individuals and their families to come to terms with
their approaching loss and time for services to implement adequate
support. Clinicians can use simple tools
to estimate when a person may be in the last year of life and help them plan to
meet goals and choose care options.
•End
of life care is care provided to people approaching and reaching the
end of their life. This care is provided by all health and community care
professionals, regardless of where they work in health, community or aged care
sectors.
•Palliative care refers
to designated specialist services provided by an interdisciplinary team of
specialist palliative care professionals whose substantial work is with
patients who are approaching the end of their life. Palliative care specialists work with other
care providers to support patients who have complex or difficult to manage
problems and they form an important component of an integrated system of care.
Caring for people who are approaching or reaching the end of their life is everybody’s business.
Caring for people who are approaching or reaching the end of their life is everybody’s business.
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