Older Queenslanders
Due to advances in modern medicine, Queensland’s population is older today than it ever has been in the past. As a result, there are more older people in our population; people are living longer; and more people are living with chronic disease, dementia and increasing frailty.
Australians aged over 65 are the largest hospital users and are at increased risk of complications related to illness/injury and hospitalisation. Older people may be more reliant on others to help with their care, and need to balance goals for length and quality of life.
Queensland Health is committed to ensuring care at the end of life is responsive to the needs of older people, their carers and family members. Our aim is to ensure older people who are at the end of life:
- are treated with care, respect, dignity and confidentiality
- have access to healthcare and palliative care services, if required
- are involved in their own decision-making and advance care planning
- have their treatment and condition explained to them in a way they can understand, particularly for those people who have impaired capacity or symptoms of dementia
- are treated and cared for in the same way as everyone else
- have their individual medical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs supported
- receive care from people they know and trust.
Care at the end of life in residential aged care facilities
Depending on your needs, you may live in or need to relocate into a residential aged care facility. Here you will get the longer-term care you need, as well as managing your end of life care needs.
Care at the end of life in residential aged care facilities is delivered using a palliative approach. A palliative approach to care considers and meets all aspects of the person’s and their family’s physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual. It emphasises comfort and quality of life and involves a team approach to care.
Residential aged care facilities sometimes have a doctor or specialist nursing staff. The community palliative care service in your area can also provide specialist care and consultation to residential aged care staff.
To relocate into residential aged care you will need to be assessed by the Aged Care Assessment Team. Find more information about aged care in Queensland.
Learn more about care at the end of life in hospital or residential aged care facilities.
Communication support
If you have a hearing or speech impairment, ask your palliative care provider about getting extra help or translating services or consider the following services.
The National Relay Service (NRS) is available to help callers with a hearing or speech impairment:
TTY users, call 133 677, then ask for (03) 9662 9644
Speak and Listen users, call 1300 555 727 then ask for (03) 9662 9644
Internet relay users, connect to the National Relay Service [http://relayservice.gov.au/], then ask for (03) 9662 9644.
There is an interpreting service for callers who speak other languages. Call (03) 9662 9644 and ask for the language you need.