Home Care > Receiving Compassionate Palliative Care At Home

Receiving Compassionate Palliative Care At Home

Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Katy Jones

Care Expert

Last Updated: 17/10/2024

Through palliative care at home, your loved one will receive comforting and compassionate support within a familiar setting, surrounded by the people they cherish the most.

This support will be provided by a palliative nurse who will offer specialist relief from any symptoms your loved one is experiencing, focusing on both physical and emotional treatment.

Here, we’ve explained how palliative care at home works, what services are available, the benefits and how to find it.

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How To Find Palliative Home Services In Your Area

We make it easy to find home care near you. You can use our free service to request a shortlist of home care providers with carer availability in your local area, delivered straight to your inbox. You can select the type of home care you require and also filter by any specific services you need (including palliative care).

National home care agencies that offer palliative care

The following are nationwide home care agencies that provide palliative care across the UK:

We’re partnered with the best home care agencies across the UK, many of which offer compassionate palliative care, including in the following locations:

Aside from our service, speaking to your GP or a similar medical professional is another option. They’ll be able to talk you through all the options available in your local area.

You can also use the NHS to search for palliative care services near you.

What Is Palliative Care At Home?

Palliative care at home provides 24/7 nursing care for anyone with a serious or incurable illness in the comfort of their own home. The main focus of palliative care, whether you're receiving it at home or in a care home setting, is to make the care as comfortable as possible, while also removing as many day-to-day stresses as possible.

Symptoms are treated with compassion and dignity in care. Emotional support is provided through palliative care at home, both for the person being looked after and their family and close friends.

Palliative care at home for the elderly is often provided around the clock, particularly as your care needs increase.

The two main options for palliative care at home are live-in care and home visits. A live-in carer will support you around the clock in any needed way. Meanwhile, regular home visits are for people who don’t require constant supervision, but do need extra weekly support. The number and length of visits varies from person to person.

We can help you find the best palliative care at home for your or your loved one’s care needs. Request a free list of home care agencies, and our care experts will match you with suitable carers with availability in your local area.

When Is Palliative Care At Home Needed?

People choose to begin receiving palliative care at many different points. Your loved one can begin receiving it at any time after a terminal diagnosis has been made.

Elderly palliative care at home could last for several years, while end-of-life care at home takes place over a much shorter period (you only receive this type of care as you near the end of your life).

Your loved one’s GP can discuss specialist care requirements, along with the best time to begin receiving palliative care at home. You and your loved one can also discuss this with other family members.

Woman at work on a computer

Examples Of Palliative Care at Home

Personal care, including assistance with personal hygiene, getting in and out of bed and getting dressed and undressed
Helping to control pain
Administering medication where necessary
Other medical tasks, such as changing dressings
Emotional support (both for the person receiving palliative care and their loved ones)
Companionship care
Physical therapy
Assistance with any household chores

Nurse putting a blanket over an older woman

This palliative care can be given by various people and services, each with a slightly different role in providing palliative care. A palliative care team could include:

Specialist palliative care nurses and doctors
Physiotherapists and occupational therapists
Counsellors and social workers
Voluntary organisations and charities such as Marie Curie, Hospice UK or Sue Ryder
A spiritual care coordinator (to provide spiritual support)

Charity volunteer

The Benefits Of Palliative Care At Home

You’ll feel more comfortable and relaxed within familiar surroundings and spend more time with your loved ones
Tailored one-to-one support from compassionate carers who often specialise in palliative care and can focus on specific symptoms and treatments
Care is carried out in a way and at a time that suits the individual receiving it
Family members can feel more at ease during a difficult time

Learn About Other Types of Home Care

We’re here to help you and your family choose the right type of home care. Check out our home care guides to learn more about the different types of home care offered by the agencies we’re partnered with:

Lottie matches care seekers with the best home carers for their care needs. You can request a free home care shortlist, where we’ll find you home care providers with availability in your local area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is palliative care at home free?

In some cases, palliative care is provided free of charge, such as through charities like Sue Ryder and Macmillan.

Your loved one could also be eligible for funding support if their savings and assets are worth less than £23,250 (in England). This will be determined through a financial assessment, which usually follows a care needs assessment.

How long can you have palliative care at home?

You’re able to receive palliative care for as long as is necessary. Palliative care takes place across a broad spectrum of health, which is why some people have it for several years, while others will only have it for a few weeks.

Do you have to pay for palliative care at home in the UK?

Whether you have to pay for palliative care at home depends on your financial situation and what support you’re eligible for. If your savings and assets are above £23,250, you’ll be required to fund your own care. If your savings and assets are below this, you could be eligible for financial assistance from your local authority. A financial assessment for care fees will determine this.

Some parts of palliative care are also offered through the NHS, with this support being free to all UK residents.

What equipment is needed for palliative care at home?

Providing palliative care at home for the elderly may require several different pieces of specialised equipment. Some of the most common examples include:

Hoists
Commodes
Walking aids
Stairlifts
Beds with pressure-relieving mattresses
Oxygen supplies