Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of people and their families who are facing problems associated with life-limiting illnesses to prevent and reduce suffering through treatment of pain and other problems.

People with physical disabilities can find themselves needing palliative care support in the same way as anyone in the wider community can. For people with physical disabilities with very complex needs and a history of major system illnesses, it can sometimes mean that palliative care is put in place as a standard treatment and not just at a time when most people would consider it to be an end of life stage.

How to access palliative care

If you enter a life stage where you require palliative care your GP, hospital consultant and allied health team will assist you in planning care to support you and your family through this journey. They will assist you to access the services within the community and hospital setting.

Being Prepared

End of life decisions and medical care can be planned in advance.

Speak to your GP about an Advanced Health Directive.

You can also put in place directions for who will support your health decisions if you are not able to do so.