← All guides · Doctor visits and check-ups
Palliative care at home
palliative care · help for seriously ill people · home palliative service · caring for a seriously ill person at home
Doctors and nurses come to the home of a seriously ill person. They relieve pain and other symptoms and help the family.
For a serious illness that cannot be cured, when the main aim is to reduce pain and make life calmer.
⏱ Duration: a visit usually takes 30 to 60 minutes, follow-up for as long as needed
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Referral. A doctor's report on palliative status is usually needed. Ask your clinic how to get it.
- Medicines. Gather all the medicines and notes of when they were given.
- Questions. Write down what worries you as the caregiver.
What to bring
- The patient's ID
- Discharge summaries and reports
- All the medicines
- Notes about pain and symptoms
How it goes
- The team arrives at the set time
- The doctor asks questions and examines the patient
- Assesses pain and other symptoms
- Chooses or changes treatment
- A nurse shows how to give care
- You agree on the next visit and how to be in touch
What you'll feel
- The exam is gentle
- It can be hard for close ones - the team supports the family too
Afterwards
- Give the medicines exactly by the schedule
- Write down how the pain changes
- Call the service if things get worse - do not wait for the next visit
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Severe pain that medicines do not relieve - call the palliative service
- Hard breathing, bleeding or seizures - call your local emergency number or the service
Common questions
Is palliative care only for the last days?
No. Help can be received for a long time, so that the person feels better.
Can I get pain relief at home?
Yes, the doctor will choose and prescribe the needed medicines.