Palliative approach in aged care: what to know

Care is shaped around what matters to the person, such as being comfortable, staying connected with family, eating and drinking according to preference, or avoiding unwanted hospital visits. Staff may review pain, breathing, nausea, constipation, sleep, mood and spiritual concerns. Support can continue alongside treatment for cancer or another illness; it does not automatically mean that all disease-directed treatment has stopped. A written plan can record the person’s wishes, substitute decision-maker, preferred place of care and who to call when symptoms change.

Ask the aged-care team for a care meeting and share the person’s routines, values, communication needs and signs of distress. Keep an up-to-date medicine list and check who is responsible for giving medicines when swallowing becomes difficult. Notice changes such as reduced appetite, new confusion, facial tension or withdrawal, and report them early. Gentle mouth care, a calm room, familiar music and meaningful visits may help, but food, fluids and activities should follow the person’s comfort and wishes. Read more about [Palliative Care](/treatments/supportive-and-palliative-care/palliative-care/).

Contact the care team promptly for pain that breaks through the plan, new or worsening breathlessness, repeated vomiting, inability to swallow medicines, a fall, sudden confusion, severe agitation or very little urine. Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, unresponsiveness, heavy bleeding or a serious injury. In a planned comfort-focused pathway, the team can explain which changes are expected and which require urgent assessment. Loss of appetite can have several causes; discuss it with the clinician rather than forcing meals.

Which symptoms should we track each day? Who should we call overnight? What can be adjusted if swallowing changes? How will the plan respect the person’s decisions about hospital transfer?