Palliative care — Nelson Marlborough

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of people facing life-limiting illness and addresses some of the associated problems. It also includes support for whānau.

What palliative care is

Palliative care helps people and their whānau through a life-limiting illness, death and bereavement. The palliative care approach tries to meet the needs of the whole person, not just treating their health condition.

If you have been diagnosed with a life-limiting condition, palliative care aims to:

  • optimise your quality of life by managing symptoms
  • support you and your whānau to manage your needs, hopes and fears
  • help you let others know what is important to you
  • help your whānau and caregivers to support you while taking care of themselves.

Ensuring that people are living as well as possible is as important as ensuring a good death.

When and where palliative care is provided

The diagnosis and treatment of a life-limiting condition can be mentally, physically and emotionally exhausting.

Palliative care is available to anyone living with a life-limiting condition, such as:

  • advanced heart, kidney or lung disease
  • cancer
  • dementia
  • progressive neurological disorders.

Palliative care services are not only helpful at the very end of life but can be relevant at any stage of the illness. Ideally, we can be involved as soon as you are diagnosed.

Palliative care can be provided at:

  • your home
  • an aged-care facility
  • hospital
  • a hospice.

Palliative care providers

Palliative care is provided by a team of:

  • family and community carers
  • healthcare providers such as GPs
  • district nurses
  • community allied health practitioners
  • specialist hospice teams.

The level of support provided depends on the needs of you and your whānau.

Many people will have their needs well met by their healthcare provider and district nurse (primary palliative care service). Others with more complex needs require the support of the specialist hospice team (specialist palliative care).

In Nelson Marlborough, the specialist palliative care service is provided by Nelson Tasman Hospice and Hospice Marlborough.

Referral information

Referrals can come from healthcare providers or you can refer yourself.

For more information, visit Hospice New Zealand | Te Kahu Pairuri o Aotearoa.

Hospice New Zealand | Te Kahu Pairuri o Aotearoa (external link)