We understand that approaching the end of life can be an emotional and uncertain time, both for the person receiving care and for those close to them.
Our focus at Capecare is on providing compassionate, respectful care that supports comfort, dignity and individual wishes, while helping families and carers access the information and support they need.
Whether you’re planning ahead, caring for someone with a life-limiting illness or looking for guidance during a difficult time, the following information and resources may help.
Understanding palliative care
Palliative care supports people living with a life-limiting or terminal illness to live as fully and comfortably as possible.
Working closely with families and loved ones, we focus on quality of life, managing pain, providing emotional and practical support, and respecting each person’s social, cultural and spiritual needs.
Palliative care isn’t just about the final days or weeks of life. It can begin much earlier and be provided alongside other treatments and care.
Families and carers are an important part of palliative care, with support available from our Care Managers, Clinical Coordinators and Registered Nurses to help them understand what to expect and navigate the challenges of caring for someone approaching the end of life.
Helpful resources:
Planning ahead
Talking about future care preferences can be difficult, but having these conversations early can provide reassurance for everyone involved.
Advance care planning gives people an opportunity to consider and communicate their values, beliefs and preferences for future health care, particularly if they become unable to make or communicate decisions themselves.
It can also help loved ones and healthcare professionals understand what matters most to the person receiving care.
In Western Australia, an Advance Health Directive is one way to record decisions about future treatment and care.
Helpful resources:
Supporting someone approaching the end of life
Caring for someone nearing the end of life can bring a range of emotions, questions and practical challenges.
Understanding what may happen, how to provide comfort and where to turn for support can help families and carers feel more prepared.
Everyone’s experience is different. Some people may wish to talk openly about approaching death, while others prefer to focus on everyday life and time with those close to them.
Listening, respecting individual wishes and maintaining a sense of connection can make an important difference.
Helpful resources:
Grief, loss and bereavement
Grief is a natural response to loss, and everyone experiences it differently.
For some, feelings of grief begin well before a loved one dies. Others may experience a range of emotions following a death, including sadness, relief, anger, uncertainty or loneliness.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and no set timeframe for adjusting to loss.
Support is available for individuals, families and carers, whether you need practical guidance, someone to talk to or information about coping with bereavement.
Helpful resources:
Our work with ELDAC
Capecare has been working with End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) to strengthen our approach to palliative and end-of-life care.
Through this work, we’re reviewing our practices, supporting staff education and identifying opportunities to improve communication, care planning and the support we provide to residents, clients and their families.
Our aim is to ensure that people receiving care from Capecare across our residential and community home care services are supported with dignity, compassion and respect, and that their wishes and preferences remain central to decisions about their care.
End-of-life care at home
Supporting your wish to remain at home
For many people, being able to spend their final stages of life at home, surrounded by familiar comforts and the people who matter most, is an important personal wish.
Capecare’s Community Home Care team can provide practical and nursing support to help make this possible, working alongside families, carers, doctors and specialist palliative care services.
Our care is guided by each person’s individual needs and preferences, with a focus on comfort, dignity and quality of life.
How Capecare can help
Depending on individual needs and care arrangements, support may include:
- Personal care: Gentle assistance with showering, dressing, grooming and daily routines.
- Nursing care: Clinical support, including wound care, medication assistance and health monitoring.
- Help around the home: Cleaning, laundry, meal preparation and other everyday household tasks.
- Respite and companionship: Practical assistance and social support to help families and carers manage their caring responsibilities.
- Care coordination: Working with your GP, family and other health professionals to help ensure care is responsive to changing needs.
Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway
The Australian Government’s Support at Home program includes a dedicated End-of-Life Pathway, providing faster access to additional in-home aged care services for eligible older people approaching the end of life.
The pathway provides approximately $25,000 over 12 weeks to help people receive the care and support they need at home. Services may continue for up to 16 weeks where funding remains available.
To qualify, a person must meet specific health and care criteria, including having an estimated life expectancy of approximately three months or less, as confirmed by a doctor or nurse practitioner.
People who already receive Support at Home services can request an urgent review, while those who are not currently receiving services can apply for a priority aged care assessment.
The End-of-Life Pathway works alongside existing palliative care services, allowing people to receive both specialised medical care and practical support at home.
We’re here to help
Understanding care options and arranging services can feel overwhelming, particularly when time is important.
Our Community Home Care team can help you understand the services available through Capecare and guide you through the next steps.
Call 08 9750 2097 or email community@capecare.com.au
Learn more about Capecare’s Community Home Care services
Read more about the End-of-Life Pathway on My Aged Care
Talk to us
If you have questions about palliative care, advance care planning or supporting a loved one approaching the end of life, please speak with our Care Manager, Clinical Care Coordinator or our Resident Advocate.
We’re here to listen, provide guidance and help you access appropriate information.
By your side, through every stage.