Where to receive palliative care?

For some people, staying at home is essential, even until the end. Receiving palliative care at home is a possible option, thanks to palliative care services at home, such as nurses, family helpers or with the support of associations. Different types of care can be provided at home, such as medical monitoring, hygiene and comfort care, psychosocial support or occupational therapy services for example.

However, modifications to the home environment may be necessary to ensure the patient’s comfort and safety.

Surrounding yourself with a palliative care team is very useful in relieving caregivers, and it is important to discuss with the health care team the implications of staying at home.

If remaining at home becomes complicated or impossible, care ban be provided in a nursing home or hospital, while maintaining significant family support.

Pain clinics, hospital palliative care units, and hospices offer specialised care.

Palliative care clinics provide outpatient care to alleviate pain and offer practical and emotional support, without accommodation.

Hospital palliative care units welcome patients for hospital stays, generally during their last months or weeks of life.

More rarely, some offer care for one-off acute care, during short stays.

Hospices or palliative care programs welcome patients in a comfortable, family setting.

CHSLD can also offer palliative care.

Access to these different establishments is subject to specific criteria, and the wait can be long. To receive palliative care in these structures, it is advisable to anticipate the request, even if staying at home is preferred at first.