Supportive and Palliative Care

Key points

• Supportive and palliative care is when a team of doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers works together with you to give you the best life possible while you’re sick
• It doesn’t just mean end-of-life care, it’s for any patient diagnosed with a serious illness
• Palliative care will help you with your symptoms as well as your mental, spiritual and social wellbeing
• People with advanced liver disease who have palliative care do better and live longer
• Talk to your doctor about arranging to see the palliative care team if you have advanced liver disease or liver cancer.

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What is supportive and palliative care?

Palliative care doesn’t just mean end-of-life care. It is so much more than that.

Palliative care is care provided by a special team (the palliative care team) for people with serious illness. It helps people live as fully and as comfortably as possible with a life-limiting illness like advanced liver disease. It can help with pain management, spiritual care, advanced care planning and more.

Palliative care is care.

The main goal of supportive and palliative care is to give you the best quality of life possible with your illness. It involves a team of people who look after your mental, social, spiritual and physical needs while you’re sick.

The palliative care team will also help and support your loved ones.

The type of palliative care services you might have depends on you. Most palliative care services are free, though sometimes there is a cost.

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Why might I need palliative care?

Supportive and palliative care is for anyone with a serious illness, both children and adults.

You might be offered referral to the palliative care team if you have decompensated cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure.

It’s available from the time you’re diagnosed until you die. But it doesn’t necessarily mean end-of-life care. The guidelines say that people should be referred for palliative care based on their need, not on the prognosis.

Palliative care is for the patient and also their family and care partners.

Supportive and palliative care is also for people who are being treated to cure their disease.

In fact, research shows that the sooner people are referred to palliative care, the more likely they are to survive and have better quality of life.

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What services does supportive and palliative care provide?

If you have advanced liver disease, having a focus on supportive and palliative care along with your other treatments can help improve your quality of life.

For example, it can help you by:

• Managing any pain or fatigue you might have
• Taking control of your symptoms, such fluid build-up (ascites), confusion due to your liver condition (hepatic encephalopathy), bleeding, itching, muscle cramps or mobility issues
• Managing your medication
• Looking after your diet, especially if you’re losing weight
• Care and education to support better mobility and sleeping
• Resources such as equipment needed to aid care at home
• Providing equipment and support for your care at home
• Bringing your family together to talk about your wishes
• Planning for your future care
• Making sure your healthcare team treat you in the way you want
• Linking you to other services and supports, including financial support
• Providing emotional, social and spiritual support for you and your family
• Offering counselling and grief support
• Referring you to respite or hospice services.

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Who provides supportive and palliative care?

Supportive and palliative care usually involves a team of professionals providing care focused on your symptoms and wellbeing. These may include your liver specialist, liver nurses, GP, aged care worker, allied health professionals like social workers and psychologists, pharmacists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and trained volunteers.

If your disease gets worse and you’re experiencing symptoms, specialist palliative care services may get involved. These are medical and nursing professionals who are specially trained in looking after people with serious illness.

They may offer you palliative care support at home, in hospital, or in an aged care or respite facility.

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How do I arrange to see the palliative care team?

Many people receive palliative care from their local doctor (GP), who can also refer to other medical specialist, or health professional. In some states and territories, you or a family member may be able to refer yourself directly to palliative care services.

If your symptoms become more complex, you may need a referral to a Specialist Palliative Care Service.

To find services in your area, visit the National Palliative Care Service Directory.

Most palliative care services are free, though there may be some costs for specific care or support.

 

Read about where to get support

Reviewed September 2024