What is Palliative Care?
Palliative and end of life care is the active, holistic care of patients with advanced progressive illness. This is an integral part of the care delivered by all health and social care professionals, and indeed by families and carers, to those living with, and dying from any advanced, progressive and incurable conditions. Palliative and end of life care focuses on the person rather than the disease and aims to ensure quality of life for those living with an advanced non-curative condition.
A palliative care approach includes:
- managing physical symptoms
- providing emotional, spiritual and psychological support
- social care, including support for personal care and everyday tasks
- support for those important to the person
Links to Palliative Care Information
All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC)
The All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) is a leading organisation with national and international influence promoting excellence in palliative care. AIIHPC is a collaborative of hospices, health and social care organisations, charities and universities on the island of Ireland. AIIHPC’s aim, with twenty-six member organisations, is to ensure excellent palliative care is available for everyone at the right time and place across the island of Ireland. For more information please visit: https://aiihpc.org/
The Palliative Hub – An All Ireland Gateway to Palliative Care Information: https://aiihpc.org/our_work/the-palliative-hub/
The Palliative Hub – Children and Young People: http://www.childrenspalliativehub.com
The Palliative Hub – Adult: http;//www.adultpalliativehub.com
The Palliative Hub – Caring for Carers. Advice for carers and family caring for those with palliative care needs: https://carerspalliativehub.com/
The Palliative Hub – Professional: https://palliativecarehubprofessional.com/
Voices for Care
A volunteer group seeking to improve the palliative care experience of people with life limiting illnesses and their families: https://aiihpc.org/voices4care/
Voices for Care are currently recruiting for new members: Voices4Care – Volunteering
Palliative Care in Partnership
Marie Curie
What is Palliative Care – Marie Curie: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/palliative-care
Caring for someone with a terminal illness: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/being-there
NI Direct – End of life care and Palliative care
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/conditions/end-life-care-and-palliative-care#toc-0
LGBT+ Support
LGBT+ booklet: Getting Care and Planning for the future: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/publications/all/lgbtq-booklet
Finding Helpful Resources for LGBTQ+ People living with a terminal illness: https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help/support/lgbtq
Booklets
What to Expect When Someone is in the Last Days and Hours of Life
A guide for families and caregivers supporting someone at the end of their life.
Palliative Care and Bereavement in Schools
https://northerntrust-hscni.pagetiger.com/bereavement-information
This digital roadmap is a one-stop guide for school staff supporting children, young people and families through palliative care, end-of-life care, and bereavement. It is a centralised hub that connects staff to advice, training and good practice examples, helping them to find the right information at the right time. It also includes resources for teachers, parents, carers, children and young people, along with links to useful support organisations and helplines.
Community Pharmacy Palliative Care Network
The Community Pharmacy Palliative Care Network ensures that palliative and end-of life patients, along with their families and carers can access essential medicines and expert advice in a timely manner. The participating community pharmacies are spread throughout NI and can be accessed during each pharmacy’s opening hours. Patients and carers are still encouraged to use their regular pharmacy in the first instance. Community Pharmacy Palliative Care Network – Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website
Community Support / Befriending
Compassionate Communities NI committed to connecting communities through compassionate action and changing attitude and behaviour towards life, age, death and bereavement. For more information please visit Compassionate Communities NI.
Marie Curie Companions provide free emotional and practical support – at home, in hospital or over the phone. For more information please visit Marie Curie Companions.
Marie Curie Online Community. For more information please visit Marie Curie Community | Care & support through terminal illness.