Supporting Families and Caregivers

Key points

• In order to provide good care at home, family and carers need support, which may include:
  • Information about the patient’s medical condition, what to expect and how to help with symptoms
  • Practical information and skills for looking after a person who is deteriorating
  • Aids and equipment to help nurse the person at home
  • Encouragement to take breaks and care for their own health and wellbeing, which may include some kind of planned respite
  • A crisis plan and contact information for after hours advice
  • Reassurance that they are doing a good job, and help with decision making if they are unable to continue their caregiving role.
• Talk with the family about the implications of calling an ambulance, and consider strategies to avoid unwanted and inappropriate treatment, or transfer of a dying person to an emergency department.
  • A letter or an ambulance plan confirming the palliative goals of care should be provided
  • The ambulance plan may also be used to authorise treatment for a predictable crisis (eg, pain, bleeding, dyspnoea).
• Consider alerting your palliative care service of the possible need for an inpatient palliative care bed as a back-up. If admission is needed, this may avoid the need to go through an emergency department.