- Palliative care focuses on comfort, quality of life and support for the person and the people close to them.
- Support at Home services can complement specialist palliative care by helping with practical daily support at home.
- The End-of-Life Pathway may provide eligible older people with rapid short-term funding to remain at home.
- The person’s wishes, care needs and available support should guide decisions about where care is provided.
What does palliative care at home mean?
Palliative care supports people living with a life-limiting illness. It focuses on comfort, quality of life and helping the person and their family manage practical, emotional and clinical needs.
For some people, home is where they want to be: their own bed, favourite chair, familiar routines, family nearby and the things that make a house feel like theirs. For others, a hospice, hospital or residential setting may be the right place. There is no single right answer. The important thing is that the person’s wishes and needs are heard.
"Being at home is not about pretending everything is normal. It is about making the time someone has feel like their own."
A principle that guides person-centred end-of-life support
The Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway
The Australian Government’s Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway is for eligible older people who have an estimated life expectancy of three months or less and want to remain at home. It is designed to complement, not replace, specialist palliative care delivered through state and territory health services.
Around $25,000 is available over an initial 12-week period. If funding remains, it can be used up to the 16-week mark. Eligibility is assessed through a doctor or nurse practitioner and the aged care process. Current criteria, funding and timing should always be confirmed with My Aged Care, the treating team and the provider.
What can practical support at home look like?
- Personal care and comfort Help with showering, dressing, hygiene, getting in and out of bed and everyday routines.
- Meals and home routines Meal preparation and practical help around the home, so energy can be saved for what matters most.
- Support for family carers Respite and practical assistance that give family members time to rest, attend an appointment or simply be present as family.
- Equipment and a safer home environment Support to identify equipment, products or minor changes that may improve comfort and safety.
- Connection and companionship Practical support that helps a person remain connected to their family, friends, routines and community.
How Heather works alongside the healthcare team
Heather’s Support at Home services work alongside specialist palliative care, GPs, nurses and other health professionals. Specialist teams manage clinical assessment, symptoms and medical care. Our role is to provide the practical, personal support that can make daily life at home more manageable.
Clear communication between the person, family, provider and treating team matters. As needs change, the plan should change too. Heather does not replace medical or emergency care, and families should speak with the treating team about symptoms, urgent concerns and clinical decisions.
It is not just about the person receiving care
When someone is approaching the end of life, the people close to them are going through it too. Being a partner, adult child, friend or carer can be meaningful, exhausting and overwhelming, often all at once.
Having support at home can create space for a family member to have a shower, go to the shops, attend an appointment or take a breath. Sometimes it also means they can sit beside the person they love without having to do everything themselves.
Your home. Your people. Your way.
A person’s preferred place of care can change as their circumstances change. The decision should reflect their wishes, care needs and the support available. If remaining at home is important, the next step is a calm conversation with the treating healthcare team, My Aged Care and a provider about what support may make that possible.
At Heather Senior Care, we take time to understand the person behind the care needs: their routines, preferences and the people who matter to them. You do not need to have every detail worked out before you get in touch.