End of Life Care

Passing away peacefully, with dignity and within familiar surroundings, is what many of us would wish for. End-of-life care at home allows you or a loved one, to do just this, in the place you feel most comfortable and safe.

Change can be disruptive and unbalancing, as can the process of settling into a completely new environment such as a hospice or hospital. Fully-managed end-of-life home care lets you or a family member stay at home, surrounded by loved ones and special comforts.

What is End of Life Care?

End-of-life care provides the support that is needed towards the end of someone's life, allowing them to pass in the most peaceful and comfortable way. While some people spend their final days in a hospital, hospice or nursing home, end-of-life care at home has become a preferred option for those who wish to spend their last moments within their own home, and surrounded by their loved ones.

A fully trained carer can offer regular support with many tasks to make you or a loved one feel comfortable and safe during what can be a distressing time. This includes:

• Personal care - supporting with bathing and showering 
• Support with toileting, including changing continence pads or using a commode
• Mobility support, such as help moving position in bed and help with standing or sitting - and using hoists when required
• Administering  or prompting medication, and supporting with pain management 
• Changing bedding and housekeeping duties 
• Preparing meals and snacks to taste and dietary requirements
• Complex care such as support with catheters, stomas and PEG feeding
• Ongoing companionship and emotional support 

At Healthcare Support, we focus on promoting independence and respecting your dignity and privacy. Your dedicated care manager will work with you and your family to understand what your specific needs are and how the chosen carer can maintain those important boundaries.

What are the options for End of Life care?  

Home visits at set times:

Your local Healthcare Support branch provides visits for set times each day or week. These can be from as little as 30 minutes, all the way through to several hours at a time or a few visits each day.

Among many other things, visiting care offers a very useful sitting service if a family member needs a few hours to rest themselves. Other families use it for extra support with housekeeping or cooking meals so they can concentrate more time and energy on those precious final moments together.

Some people feel more comfortable with receiving personal care from a trained carer rather than a family member or friend. All of our carers go through thorough training to offer personal care support in a way that respects personal space and maintain their dignity at all times.

Overnight end of life care at home:

If your loved one needs constant support overnight, maybe with medication, plain management or going to the toilet, you can also arrange overnight care. It's a valuable service allowing you, or another caregiver, to have a much-needed rest yourself so you can be fresh for the next day.

This support can come in the form of either:

• Waking night support, for constant support throughout the night
• Sleeping night support, for the peace of mind of someone being in the house if your loved one does wake
• Emergency care at home

Support needs can change suddenly. At Healthcare Support, we offer a fast and responsive service so you can get the right support in place in an emergency.