People nearing the end of their lives
Improving care and quality of life, up to the end of life.
Palliative care involves providing good care to people with life limiting conditions, or whose health is in irreversible decline. All health and social care professionals have a role to play in palliative care.
Having earlier open and honest conversations with people about palliative care can help people to have improved quality of life and ensure that they receive the care that they want at the end of life, and helps staff to coordinate care and support.
Most people say that they would like to be cared for at home when they reach the end of their life, yet only 21% actually die at home. Improving the identification of people who could benefit from a palliative care approach, and the coordination of their care, can help to address this disparity.
Resources
- Palliative and end of life care identification tools comparator – Compares the features of different palliative care identification tools at a glance, together with links to further information and research.
- Continuity and care co-ordination in palliative and end of life care: evidence for what works – A review of evidence on approaches that can improve continuity and coordination of palliative care.
- Scottish palliative care guidelines – good practice guidelines on care for individuals with life limiting illness.
Case studies
LWiC worked with Health and Social Care Partnerships to identify opportunities to test and implement improvements in the identification and care co-ordination of those who can benefit from palliative and end of life care.
The following case studies highlight key learning from our test sites:
- Riverside Care Home, Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership
- Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership - work in two care homes, Harestane Care Home (Nursing), and Craigie Care Home (Residential). Support from both the Living Well in Communities and Focus on Dementia portfolios.
- East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership: