Meeting your needs at the end of life
People think differently about death and dying. Everyone’s needs and wishes are different.
Talk to your healthcare team about your cultural, spiritual or other needs. This includes if you would like to become an organ and tissue donor.
Your healthcare team will work with you and try to meet these needs.
Spiritual care
Spiritual care for a person at the end of their life aims to understand their emotional, relational, existential or religious concerns. It can:
- help a person to find meaning or acceptance in their last months or days in this life
- help people to say goodbye.
ACT palliative care services have relationships with different faith communities. They can provide support at home, in hospital, at a hospice or in an aged care facility.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who receive end-of-life care in the ACT are not from the ACT. They may want to die on Country.
It’s important to talk to your healthcare team early about what you would like to happen at the end of your life. This will allow time to go back home if you want.
Your family may be able to get help with funeral costs if you die in the ACT and want to return home for burial. Learn more about the ACT Funeral Assistance Program.
Advice and support are also available from the Winnunga Nimmityjah Health and Community Service Supportive Care Clinic.
Palliative care resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
- Pop Arthur comic book at Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
- Caring for your mob at the end of their life at Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
- Dying to talk discussion starter at Palliative Care Australia
- Discussing choices: Indigenous advance care plans at Palliative Care Australia
- Download Advance care yarning [PDF 2 MB] at SA Health.
Multicultural community
Multicultural community leaders can help with traditions around death and dying. They may also be able to support you to access the care you need.
Interpreters are available free of charge if you need one. Your healthcare team can arrange this or call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
LGBTIQA+ community
Palliative care services in the ACT are safe and inclusive.
Sexuality and gender identity are respected, as are the relationships and chosen families of persons receiving palliative care.
People in prison
In the Alexander Maconochie Centre, end-of-life care is provided by Justice Health Services as part of Canberra Health Services or Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services. These services work together with palliative care services.
If you have questions about a person in the centre who has a serious life-limiting illness, you can call 02 6205 8588 from 8:30 am to 5 pm and ask to speak to a staff member from the Hume Health Centre.
People with disability
All palliative care services in the ACT are designed to be accessible to people with disability.
Each service has physical access to accommodate wheelchairs and offers mobility assistance.
They also have facilities to help with hearing or sight impairment.
Palliative care services that go into the home can also go into group homes for people with disability.
People with dementia
Like many life-limiting illnesses, people in the end stages of dementia gradually become unable to:
- be independent
- recognise people
- communicate
- do regular activities such as eating, dressing or controlling their body.
Knowing what dementia can look like in the end stages can help you prepare for the slow decline. It can help you understand some of the decisions that may need to be made in the future.
Find out how to plan ahead at Dementia Australia.
Call:
- Dementia Australia’s ACT office for information on the local quarterly Advance Care Planning clinics on 02 6255 0722
- the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
Organ and tissue donation
You could save someone’s life by becoming an organ and tissue donor.
It’s important to discuss your donation decision with your loved ones. This is so they’re aware of your wishes.
Organ and tissue donation in the ACT is coordinated by DonateLife ACT.
Lead more about organ and tissue donationat Canberra Health Services.