Deciding where you would like to die is a personal decision.
Learn more about:
- Making your choice
- Dying in your own home
- Dying in a palliative care unit or hospice
- Dying in hospital
- Dying in a residential aged care facility
We outline the options of dying in your own home, in a palliative care unit, in hospital, or in a residential aged care facility.
Making your choice
Deciding where you would like to be cared for as you approach the end of life can be difficult. Having some control over where death occurs is often considered a key factor in dying well. Where that place might be will be different for everyone.
Available care options
The options available to you may include:
- your own home
- a palliative care unit (hospice)
- a hospital
- a residential aged care facility.
Where you would like to die may change as your situation progresses, or as practical concerns arise. You may want to spend as much time as possible at home, but feel more comfortable moving to a palliative care unit or hospital near the end. This is understandable and your wishes should be respected whenever possible.
Planning and considerations
It can take time to arrange somewhere to stay. Keep in mind that sometimes there may not be space available when you need it.
You may need to have ongoing conversations with your carers and healthcare team about the best place for your end-of-life care. This may include being in a familiar environment, being surrounded by family and friends, having good symptom control, and being able to maintain your dignity.
Family and carer involvement
It’s a good idea to find out the views and preferences of your carers and family. Although dying is a natural process, few people have experience or knowledge of looking after someone who is dying, and they may be uncomfortable with the idea of caring for you at home.
If you talk together about where you would like to be cared for and plan ahead, you are more likely to get the care you want.
Challenges and limitations
In some cases, you may feel like your choice is limited and that your situation helps decide the setting. This may be because you have medical needs that only a hospital or palliative care unit can meet, or you may live in an area too remote for home visits. Your house may be unsuitable, perhaps because of stairs or a small bathroom.
Talk to your healthcare or palliative care team about your concerns and find out what options may be available in your area.
Podcast: End-of-Life Care at Home
Listen to more episodes of our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Fiona Wiseman, Senior Social Worker, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Grace Berwald, Consumer; Peta Brydon, Metastatic McGrath Breast Care Clinical Nurse Consultant, The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, NSW; Kate Bunyan, Social Worker, Psychosocial Lead, Cancer and Palliative Supportive Care, Canberra Region Cancer Centre, ACT; Hayden Christie, Medical Oncologist and Clinical Director Cancer Care Service and Clinical Lead of the VAD Service for Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, QLD; John Clements, Consumer; Claire Davies, Spiritual Care Practitioner, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Joanne Dean, Nurse Practitioner, PEACE Team, Clare Holland House, ACT; A/Prof Michael Franco, Medical Oncologist and Palliative Medicine Physician, Deputy Head – Monash Medical School, Monash University, VIC; Dr Sally Greenaway, WSLHD Director of Supportive and Palliative Care, Senior Staff Specialist Clinical Haematology and Clinical Ethics Service, NSW; Maree Grier, Clinical Psychologist, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Dr Catherine Joyce, National Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia; Mattesse Kitchin, Consumer; Penny Neller, Project Manager, End of Life Law for Clinicians, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD; Caitriona Nienaber 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Palliative Care Australia; A/Prof Joel Rhee, Head of Discipline of General Practice, School of Clinical Medicine, University of New South Wales, NSW.
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