End-of-life care at home

Palliative and end-of-life home care

We know how hard it can be to cope with a life-threatening or terminal medical condition. Whether you’ve been diagnosed or you’re supporting a loved one, it can mean stress, anxiety and difficult decisions at an already difficult time.

Our end-of-life and palliative care services are here to make things a little bit simpler and a little bit easier. We’ll send an expert carer to your home who’s trained to support people with serious illnesses or who are nearing the end of their life. For you, this means getting the care you need to feel comfortable and supported in the familiar environment of your family home.

At Novus Care, we provide palliative and end-of-life care services at home that are tailored to you. You get a flexible care plan that adjusts to your changing circumstances and provides as much or as little support as you need. That means peace of mind for you and your family – and compassionate, one-to- one support to help you make the most of your time together.

End-of-life care vs palliative care

The difference between palliative care and end-of-life care is subtle enough that many people use the two terms to mean the same thing. However, while they’re similar, there are important differences between them.

When we talk about palliative care, we mean any kind of care that focuses on helping people with serious and terminal illnesses. It’s all about improving the person’s quality of life and providing tailored support for their condition. The person can receive palliative care at any stage of their illness, including at diagnosis.

End-of-life care, meanwhile, is a special type of palliative care for a person nearing the end of their life. With end-of-life care at home, this means making sure the person can make the most of their final weeks in a comfortable, familiar environment. People who receive palliative care may transition to end-of-life care as their needs change.

Palliative care at home: what to expect

When you choose palliative or end-of-life home care from Novus Care, you get flexible support from a CQC-regulated care agency with 14+ years of experience. This means you can expect a high standard of care from trained carers who are always employed directly by us – never agency staff.

The first step is to tailor your care. We’ll work with you to draw up a bespoke one-to-one care plan that focuses on your existing needs while leaving room for flexibility. This allows us to quickly adjust your care as your symptoms or needs change.

Then we’ll match you with a specialised palliative/end-of-life carer who shares your interests and outlook on life. It’s their job to keep you comfortable and make sure you can live life as normally as possible at home. That might mean:

• Offering targeted relief for your symptoms
• Helping with personal care (toileting, washing and grooming)
• Administering medication, managing catheters and other health care tasks
• Doing housework, preparing meals and running errands
• Providing mobility support
• Being a trusted companion – sharing a cuppa, a chat and perhaps a few jokes

Your options for end-of-life care services at home

Live-in palliative care at home

With live-in palliative care or end-of-life care, you get a full-time carer who lives at your home around the clock. That means you’ll have constant companionship and tailored support from a carer who understands your needs and shares your interests. Live-in care is a good option for those with complex care needs. It also means extra peace of mind for your family, because they’ll know there’s always a trusted person on hand to help.

Visiting palliative care

Are you living with a serious or terminal medical condition but don’t need 24/7 care? Visiting care is all about giving you just the right amount of support to keep you comfortable and independent. With this option, we’ll draw up a care schedule that suits your needs and lifestyle. That might mean getting help around the house a few times a week or receiving daily visits to help with health care or running errands.

End-of-life respite care

When you choose respite care, you’ll get a full-time carer who lives with you, but only in the short term. It might suit you if you usually provide palliative care for a loved one, but can’t because you’ve fallen ill or need a break. In any case, we’ll create a tailored care plan so you can expect seamless support and a consistent standard of care. Respite care can last for as little as a few days or as long as several weeks.

Overnight end-of-life home care

Do you have a carer during the day but need support at night? That’s where overnight care can help. We’ll send a carer who specialises in palliative or end-of-life care to cover those nighttime shifts. For you, this means constant care and companionship at a time when you might feel at your most vulnerable. For your family, it means extra peace of mind that help is available in an emergency.

Companionship care

Sometimes, what you need most is a friendly face and a listening ear. With our flexible companionship care service, you can always have someone on hand to chat, share a cuppa and help you through the difficult times. They can also help with other care tasks, such as health care and jobs around the house. Companionship care might suit you if you live alone or don’t always have friends and family around to support you.

It’s not always easy to know what kind of care is right for you. If you or a loved one needs palliative care and you’d like to discuss your options, please get in touch. We’ll work together to create a flexible care plan that’s unique to you.

At-home palliative care vs hospice care

Choosing between private palliative care at home and hospice care is a big decision. We’ve put together this table to show you what to expect with end-of-life or palliative care at home compared to hospice care.

Your end-of-life home care questions answered

What is palliative care at home?
Palliative care focuses on improving a person’s quality of life after they’ve been diagnosed with a life-threatening or terminal health condition. With palliative care at home, this care is provided within the familiar environment of the person’s home.

How long does palliative care last?
Palliative care can last for weeks, months or years. The care can be adjusted or even discontinued depending on how the person’s condition progresses. If the person doesn’t get better, they may transition to receiving end-of-life care.

Can you have end-of-life care at home?
End-of-life care is a special type of palliative care. It’s all about making sure a person stays as comfortable as possible as they near the end of their life. Many people choose end-of-life care at home because it lets them spend their remaining weeks surrounded by family and pets in a safe, familiar environment.

Why is end-of-life care important?
End-of-life care is important because it focuses on the person’s safety and comfort, not on treating an untreatable illness. When a person has only weeks or months left to live, this sense of safety and comfort is perhaps the most important thing of all.

What is an end-of-life care plan?
An end-of-life care plan is a document that maps out the kind of support a person should receive from their end-of-life carers. When you choose Novus Care, we’ll work with you and your family to create a care plan based on your unique needs and changing circumstances.

Can you refuse end-of-life care?
Yes. Any UK adult with mental capacity can refuse care – even end-of-life care.

Who pays for end-of-life care at home?
With private end-of-life care at home, it’s often the person receiving care or their family who pays for the care. However, your local council may be able to provide financial support on a means-tested basis. Learn more about how to fund your care.

What medical conditions do you support?
At Novus Care, we provide compassionate end-of-life care at home for cancer patients, people living with dementia and many more life-limiting conditions. Here’s the full list of medical conditions we support.

How to arrange end-of-life care at home

Let’s make sure you have the best possible support at a difficult time. Get in touch with our team and we’ll put together a flexible care plan that’s tailor-made for you. Call our friendly palliative care at home team today on  0800 138 4030 or email: [email protected]