For someone entering end of life care, and for their family, friends and carers, it can be an extremely difficult and emotional time.
Healthcare providers recognise that and are determined to do all they can to minimise the disruption and disturbance to all concerned, to ensure that aspects of medical treatment do not preoccupy people as they are dying and detract from their precious final weeks or months.
Advance Care Plan (Living will)
People entering the final part of their life like to ensure that they have put all of their financial and legal affairs in order so that their families are not inconvenienced when they die. Depending on the person's condition they can also choose to grant others lasting Power of Attorney while they are still alive so that family members have authority to take important decisions on their behalf about the treatment they receive.
To help with this, locally we and our partner organisations have drawn up a single plan that people can use across the area and which will be recognised by medical staff and other practitioners.
It is called the Advance Care Plan and it allows someone entering end of life care to set out a number of priorities and wishes relating to their care. This sort of plan is sometimes referred to as a 'living will'.
To download a copy of the local plan, click here.
Palliative Care
End of life care includes palliative care. If you have an illness that can’t be cured, palliative care is the name given to the care you receive that makes you as comfortable as possible, by managing your pain and other symptoms. It can also include psychological, social and spiritual support for you and your family or carers, depending on your/their specific needs.
Palliative care isn’t just for the end of life. People can receive palliative care earlier in their illness.