Some people may live alone or have little or no support from family or friends. They may be living a long distance from anyone who would usually offer practical and emotional support.
Community palliative care services can help you to stay at home for as long as possible. But at some point, you may need 24-hour care. Depending on your circumstances and care needs this may be available in a palliative care unit (hospice), hospital or residential aged care facility.
If you live alone, you could ask for support from:
- your GP or community nurse
- the palliative care team or volunteer palliative care organisations
- Palliative Care Australia (for services available near you)
- My Aged Care
- the local community health service
- culturally-based community services
- your local council
- a church or other religious group
- practical support services
- Cancer Council 13 11 20 or cancer support groups.
It’s common to worry about being a burden on friends, family or community organisations. But they may want to help, so talk to them about your needs and ways they can help that work for you both.
→ READ MORE: Where can I have palliative Care?
More resources
Prof Meera Agar, Palliative Care Physician, Professor of Palliative Medicine, University of Technology Sydney, IMPACCT, Sydney, NSW; Anne Booms, Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care, Icon Cancer Centre Midlands, WA; Nicola Champion, Consumer; John Clements, Consumer; Dr Alexandra Clinch, Palliative Medicine Specialist and Deputy Director, Palliative Care, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC; A/Prof Jaklin Eliott, School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, SA; Dr Jemma Gilchrist, Clinical Psychologist, Mind My Health, NSW; McCabe Centre for Law and Cancer, VIC; Caitlin MacDonagh, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Palliative Care, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Dr Roya Merie, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Concord, NSW; Dr Deidre Morgan, Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, Flinders University, SA; Caitriona Nienaber, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA; Palliative Care Australia.
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