Meeting your needs at the end of life
People think differently about death and dying, and everyone’s needs are different.
Talk about your cultural, spiritual or other needs with your healthcare team. They will work with you to try and meet these needs.
Spiritual care
Spiritual care for a person at end of life is about trying to understand their emotional, relational, existential or religious concerns.
Spiritual care can help a person to find meaning or acceptance with their last months or days in this life. It can also help people to say goodbye.
ACT palliative care services have relationships with different faith communities who can provide support at home, in hospital, at a hospice or in an aged care facility.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
We recognise the importance of cultural sensitivity when providing end of life and palliative care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who receive end of life care in the ACT are not from the ACT and want to die on country.
It is important to talk to your healthcare team early about what you would like to happen at your end of life. This will allow time to go back home if you want.
If an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person has died in the ACT and needs to return home for burial, funding may be available to help with this from the ACT Funeral Assistance Program.
Advice and support is also available from the Winnunga Nimmityjah Health and Community Service Supportive Care Clinic.
More information
Go to the following websites for more information and to access resources:
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - Pop Arthur comic book
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care - Caring for your mob at the end of their life
- Palliative Care Australia - Dying to talk discussion starter
- Palliative Care Australia - Discussing choices: Indigenous advance care plans
- SA Health - Advance care yarning
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.
More information
Go to the Palliative Care Australia website for multilingual palliative care factsheets and community resources.
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 (AMC), end of life care is provided by Justice Health Services as part of Canberra Health Services and/or Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services (WNAHCS). 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 phone 02 6205 8588 from 8.30am to 5pm 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 by people with disability. Each service has physical access to accommodate wheelchairs and offer mobility assistance. They also have facilities to assist with hearing or sight impairment.
Palliative care services that go into the home can also go into group homes for people with a 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 or do regular activities such as eating, dressing, or having control over their body.
Knowing how dementia can look like in the end stages can help you prepare for the gradual deterioration and understand some of the decisions that may need to be made in the future.
More information
Go to Dementia Australia for more information on planning ahead.
If you would prefer to talk to someone, call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.