Palliative care for an elderly person at home

The care team assesses symptoms, function, medicines, safety and the caregiver’s capacity. A plan may cover pain, breathlessness, nausea, bowel changes, sleep, anxiety, appetite and personal care. Nurses or other professionals may visit, advise by phone, teach family members and coordinate with the person’s doctor. Equipment such as a commode, pressure-relieving mattress or mobility aid may make care safer, but it should be selected with professional guidance. Palliative care can coexist with treatments intended to control the illness.

Keep medicines together, labelled and out of reach of children, and write down when each dose is given. Place emergency and service numbers where everyone can find them. Agree who will help with washing, meals, repositioning and appointments, and plan relief for the main caregiver. Offer small preferred foods and sips if comfortable; never force eating or drinking. Track changes in alertness, breathing, pain and urine, and share the record with the team. For related information, see [Palliative Care](/treatments/supportive-and-palliative-care/palliative-care/).

Seek prompt clinical advice if pain suddenly increases, the person becomes newly confused, cannot swallow, vomits repeatedly, falls, develops a fever or has much less urine. Emergency help is needed for severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, collapse, unresponsiveness, uncontrolled bleeding or a serious injury. Ask in advance what to do if the person’s condition changes overnight. A planned home-care pathway should include clear instructions, but urgent symptoms still need immediate attention.

Which medicines should be available at home for symptom flares? Who can visit if care needs increase? What equipment is appropriate? How should we respond if swallowing stops? When should we call emergency services?