Families in Townsville can access palliative care services that focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for anyone with a life-limiting illness. Our PalAssist team provides free support and information to Queensland families through our registered nurses and health professionals, seven days a week.
Unfortunately, many families think palliative care is only for the final days of life. And so they miss out on the support that could improve their loved one’s comfort and daily routine.
Palliative care can actually start soon after a diagnosis of a serious illness. So in this article, we’ll cover what palliative care involves, who can benefit from it, and why starting the conversation early is specifically important for patients and families.
We’ll begin by looking at who benefits from palliative care and the help it provides.
Who Can Benefit from Palliative Care and What It Offers
Quality palliative care supports people with a life-limiting illness by focusing on comfort, symptom relief, and emotional well-being. And it is, in fact, available to patients of any age and at any stage of illness. Many families are often surprised to learn how broad this support can be.
Below, we will look at who can benefit, who provides the care, and where you can receive it.
Support for a Wide Range of Life-Limiting Illnesses
Firstly, let’s clear up another common misconception: palliative care is not limited to cancer. It also supports people with organ failure, neurological conditions like motor neurone disease, dementia, and other serious illnesses like advanced heart disease and chronic lung disease.
Regardless of the type of illness, the focus of palliative care is always on improving quality of life. This includes reducing symptoms like pain, fatigue, and breathlessness, so patients can feel more comfortable day to day.
That’s why it’s best to start palliative care early. If care begins soon after a diagnosis, families have more time to plan, ask questions, and build a relationship with their care team. This early connection often helps people feel more in control during an uncertain and difficult time.
Who Delivers the Care
A palliative care team includes doctors, nurses, social workers, and allied health staff like physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Plus, your GP will always be there to play a central role by coordinating care and connecting you with specialist palliative care services when needed.
This team approach means each health professional brings different skills to your loved one’s care. For example, a nurse might manage medications and symptoms day to day, while a social worker helps the family access financial support or counselling.
So you’ll get a more complete support system that addresses physical symptoms, emotional needs, and practical concerns all at once.
Where You Can Access Palliative Care
You can receive palliative care in many settings, including at home, in hospital, in aged care facilities, or in hospices. But many families choose home care because it keeps their loved one in a familiar place while having access to nursing, personal care, and family support. That way, patients stay comfortable, and families get the support they need.
For families in rural and remote areas, distance can make access harder. Fortunately, services like the SPaRTa telehealth program bridge this gap by connecting patients with specialist palliative care through video consultations.
And since 2019, we’ve also seen compassionate communities grow across Queensland. This is when the Compassionate Communities Conversation Series started bringing people together to talk about care, ageing, and serious illness. These networks train local volunteers to provide practical support like respite for carers, companionship, and help with everyday tasks like transport or meals.
Paediatric Palliative Care Is Growing in Importance
Approximately 5,700 Queensland families are caring for a child with a life-limiting condition. Because of this, paediatric palliative care focuses on meeting the special emotional and practical needs of both the child and their family. After all, a sick child affects the whole family, including the siblings, grandparents, and close friends.
Services like Hummingbird House (Queensland’s only children’s hospice) offer short break stays, symptom management, play therapy, and family respite at no cost to families. The Children’s Health Queensland Paediatric Palliative Care Service also provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support for young patients across the state.
If your child or another child in your family has a life-limiting condition, connect with these services early. This will give your family more time to build trust with the care team and access the full range of support available.
How to Access a Palliative Care Service in Queensland
You can access palliative care in Queensland through a referral from your GP, hospital, or community health service. In some cases, you or a family member can also contact palliative care providers directly.
In this section, we will walk you through the process to get connected and the resources that can help.
Where to Start and Who You Can Talk To
The most common way to access palliative care is through a referral from your GP or hospital specialist. Your doctor already knows your loved one’s medical history, which will make it easier to match them with the right local services.
If you are not sure where to begin or if things feel overwhelming, we can help.
Our registered nurses are available seven days a week to answer your questions and connect you with the right services. You can call us on 1800 772 273 between 7 am and 7 pm, or chat with us online. The earlier you reach out, the more time you’ll have to explore your options and make decisions without feeling rushed.
Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning (ACP) makes sure your loved one receives care that matches their wishes and values. These conversations can feel hard to start, especially when families are anxious or unsure about the future. But having them early can take the pressure off making big decisions during a crisis.
You can start ACP with free resources and forms provided by Queensland Health. One option is the Statement of Choices form, which allows patients to record their care preferences in their own words. If you need a more formal approach, the Advance Health Directive is a legal document that gives clear instructions about medical treatment.
After completing either form, the Statewide Office of Advanced Care Planning will upload these documents to your loved one’s Queensland Health record. This way, clinicians can access them when needed.
Regional Families
Apart from the telehealth program we mentioned earlier, families in Townsville and nearby areas can access specialist palliative care at Townsville University Hospital. The service provides inpatient care, outpatient clinics, and outreach support to patients across North Queensland. This means you don’t always need to travel far to get expert help.
Cultural and Inclusive Care
Everyone deserves to feel safe and understood, especially during such a personal time. This means your palliative care should respect your family’s culture, language, and beliefs.
If you’re a family with different cultural or language needs, Queensland Health provides advanced care planning resources in multiple languages, including Arabic, Mandarin, and Samoan. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, they also offer customised materials, like the Advance Care Yarning resources.
Queensland Health is committed to providing inclusive care for LGBTIQ+ patients and their chosen families as well.
Access End-of-Life Care Services Through Queensland Health
So, how are you feeling after reading through all of this? If you are still uncertain about what to do next or feeling a bit overwhelmed right now, please know that it is completely normal.
Palliative care providers are available across Queensland to offer symptom control, emotional support, and practical guidance for both patients and families. These services are there to help, so don’t feel like you are giving up by asking for support. In fact, it is one of the most caring things you can do for your loved one and for yourself.
If you have questions or if you simply need someone to listen, our team at Pal Assist is here for you. Call us on 1800 772 273 any day from 7 am to 7 pm, or start an online chat.
Disclaimer
This blog provides general health and product information for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace advice from your healthcare professional. Always seek guidance from your GP, nurse, continence advisor, or pharmacist regarding your individual needs. If symptoms persist or you’re unsure about product use, consult a qualified healthcare provider.
