- Be planned with you, so you know what to expect
- Be kind and caring
- Be safe and good quality
- Think about all your needs, not just your illness
- Be based on what you want and need
- Be honest and clear, with people talking to you in good time
- Happen in the place you choose, if possible
- Help you stay as independent as you can
- Be there for you day or night if you need it
End of Life
- Home
- End of Life
Your Future Care
When you talk to your health care team, you may hear words like End of Life Care and Palliative Care.
These words can feel hard to understand. The information below explains them in simple language.
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is care to help you feel as well as you can when you are very ill.
You may be offered palliative care if:
- Your health may not get better
- You have a life limiting illness
Palliative care can help with:
- Pain or other symptoms (symptoms means signs of illness, like feeling sick or very tired)
- Side effects from treatment (side effects are things that happen because of treatment)
- Support for you and your family
Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about what this means.
You can ask someone you trust to be with you during these talks.
You can get palliative care at the same time as other treatments.
It helps you stay as comfortable as possible and live as well as you can.
What is end of life care?
End of life care is care for people who are near the end of their life.
It helps people:
- Feel as well as they can
- Stay comfortable
- Die with dignity and respect
Some people may need this care for the last year of life.
Others may need it for the last few months, weeks, or days.
Everyone is different, so it can be hard to know exactly when this care is needed.
Your doctors and nurses may want to talk to you about how you want to be cared for in the future.
They may use words like Advance Care Planning (ACP) or ReSPECT.
Advanced Care Planning
Advance Care Planning is a chat between you and your doctor or carer.
You talk about the kind of care you want in the future. They write this down so other people know your wishes.
ReSPECT
ReSPECT means Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment.
It is a form that says what care and treatment you would want if you become very ill or if your health changes suddenly.
It helps others understand your wishes in an emergency.
You can find more information about different types of Advance Care Planning on the Leeds Palliative Care Network website.
Here are some questions people ask about care at the end of life.
The people who care for you will depend on:
- Your medical condition
- What care and support you need
- Where you are being looked after
- Your needs and wishes at the time
You may be helped by different people, such as doctors, nurses, and care workers.
If your needs are more complex (more difficult or changing), you may also get help from a specialist team.
This might include:
- A palliative care doctor
- A nurse or therapist who is trained in this type of care
You can get palliative care in different places, such as:
- Your home or care home
- A hospital
- A hospice (a hospice is a place that gives special care to people with life limiting illness)
Useful Resources
What If Things Change - This is a booklet made in Leeds. It helps you think about what matters to you and what you would like to happen if you became unwell quickly.
My Future Wishes – A Guide to Advance Care Planning - This guide helps you and your family talk about your future care. It helps you write down your wishes in a clear and simple way.