When should someone be offered palliative care
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is a specialised form of support designed to enhance comfort and quality of life for those living with serious or life-limiting conditions. Unlike end of life care, which is provided during the final stages of someone’s life, palliative care can begin at any point following a diagnosis and may continue for weeks, months, or even years.
Palliative care is about more than just managing symptoms. It’s about creating space for rest, dignity, and meaningful moments with loved ones. Whether you’re arranging care for a family member or a patient, the goal is always the same: to help them feel safe and supported wherever they call home.
When considering palliative care, it’s important to know what to expect. Here are some of the elements palliative care can provide:
✔ Expert pain and symptom management to ease discomfort
✔ Companionship and emotional support to reduce isolation
✔ Help with daily routines such as sleeping, eating and personal care
✔ Stress relief and relaxation techniques to promote calmness and comfort
✔ Psychosocial support for both the individual and their family
How long does palliative care last?
One of the most common misunderstandings about palliative care is that it signals the end of life. In reality, palliative care is not just for the final days or weeks, it’s a journey of support that can begin early in a diagnosis and continue for months or even years.
Some people may receive palliative care for an extended period and even recover from their condition, while others may transition to end of life care when the time comes. There is no fixed timeline, only care that adapts to your needs.
Arrange private palliative care at home today
We know how quickly circumstances can change. That’s why Ellea Nursing is able to begin providing compassionate care within 24 hours, so you or your loved one can receive expert support without delay.
Our Private Care Liaisons are ready to listen, understand your needs and create a bespoke care plan that reflects your wishes. Whether it’s palliative or end of life care, we’re here to provide care like no other. Contact our dedicated team today using the button below.
What conditions qualify for palliative care?
Palliative care is recommended for those living with a life-limiting condition or serious illness, where a cure may no longer be possible, but comfort, dignity and quality of life can still be prioritised.
At Ellea Nursing, our specialist nurses and carers provide expert palliative care and support for a wide range of conditions, including:
- Dementia
- Organ failure, such as kidney, liver or heart
- Advanced cancers
- Terminal conditions, including motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s
- Brain and spinal injuries
- Strokes and other complex conditions
What types of palliative care are available?
Palliative care can be delivered in a variety of settings, each designed to offer comfort, dignity and tailored support. At Ellea Nursing, we believe that care should be as unique as the person receiving it, whether at home, in a care facility, or within a clinical environment.
Let’s explore the different types of palliative care available:
Palliative care at home
Receiving palliative care at home enables people to remain in familiar surroundings, surrounded by loved ones. Our specialist Ellea Nursing nurses and carers provide bespoke, nurse-led care that focuses on comfort, symptom management and emotional wellbeing. Home care creates a calm, supportive environment where families can spend meaningful time together, with care tailored to the person’s evolving needs.
Palliative care in a care home
Some care homes offer palliative care for residents who need additional support. This can be a reassuring option for elderly people already living in a home, allowing them to continue receiving care in a familiar setting. Trained staff provide comfort, safety and dignity, ensuring residents feel supported throughout their journey.
Palliative care in a hospital
Hospitals may offer short-term palliative care, often overseen by specialist nurses or healthcare assistants. This type of care is typically provided while arrangements are made for a transition to a hospice, care home or home setting. The focus is on stabilising symptoms and ensuring the individual receives appropriate support during a critical phase of their condition.
Signs it is time to consider palliative care
Making the decision to arrange palliative care for a loved one can be emotional and overwhelming. There are often signs that indicate someone may benefit from palliative care, where their condition is progressing and additional support would help to manage symptoms and maintain comfort:
- Increasing number of hospital emergency visits and hospitalisations
- Frequent falls
- Difficulty performing everyday tasks such as personal care, cooking, bathing and dressing
- Reduced activeness and movement
- Unexplained or rapid weight loss
If you’ve noticed any of these changes in a loved one or patient, it may be time to explore palliative care options. Our specialist nurses and carers are ready to provide holistic, nurse-led support delivered in the comfort of home, where dignity and comfort matter most.
Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to an urgent change, our Private Care Liaisons are here to listen, understand and create a bespoke care plan tailored to your needs. To arrange care, complete the short form below.
How Ellea Nursing can support you with palliative care
Making the decision to arrange palliative care for a loved one can be emotional and overwhelming. There are often signs that indicate someone may benAt Ellea Nursing, we understand that arranging palliative care is one of the most personal and emotional decisions you’ll ever make. That’s why our specialist nurses and carers are here to provide holistic, nurse-led support delivered with compassion, dignity and clinical excellence.
Our team is trained to manage both the physical and emotional challenges of palliative and end of life care. We tailor every care plan to the individual, ensuring comfort and rest in the place they call home.
Our palliative care at home service
Overseen by our Head of Service Gemma and Clinical Service Lead Sam, our palliative care at home service is managed by two specialist nurses whose hands-on experience in hospice care ensures every detail of our care is handled with clinical excellence and compassion.
We believe that everyone deserves to be cared for with empathy and respect, especially during life’s most delicate moments.
When you choose Ellea Nursing, you can expect:
- Same day care delivery wherever you call home
- Support with procurement of specialist medical equipment including beds and hoists
- Expert symptom and pain management tailored to the individual
- Emotional and psychosocial support for your loved one and family
- Bespoke care plans that evolve with your needs
- 24/7 care and support from professionals you can trust
- Dedicated clinical lead nurses managing care plans
Client feedback
“We couldn’t navigate this journey without Ellea Nursing. Having never been through this before, they exceeded anything we could have imagined and are enabling us to cherish the time we have left with mum. The night they brought mum home from the hospital was the first night I’d slept in weeks, knowing she was safe and well cared for. The nurses couldn’t do enough, always making sure mum was comfortable.
Ellea provides exceptional care – everyone is kind and caring, and mum is treated with compassion and dignity. The speed and responsiveness were incredible, with their Head of Service, Gemma, visiting the hospital early to ensure mum’s discharge that same evening. Everything was done quickly but thoroughly, filling us with confidence.”
– Emily, daughter of Client
Arrange palliative care at home
To begin receiving care from Ellea Nursing, please complete the form and our team will be in touch.
Palliative care frequently asked questions (FAQs)
To learn more about palliative care, view our frequently asked questions below.
Palliative care and end of life care are often spoken about together, but they serve different purposes at different stages of a person’s care journey.
Palliative care is designed for those living with an incurable illness or life-limiting condition. It can begin from the moment of diagnosis and focuses on managing symptoms, improving comfort and enhancing quality of life, often over weeks, months or even years.
End of life care is a type of palliative care provided when someone is approaching the final stage of life. The focus shifts to ensuring the person feels safe, comfortable and supported as they prepare to pass peacefully, with dignity and compassion.
At Ellea Nursing, we offer both palliative and end of life care at home, delivered by specialist nurses and carers who understand the emotional and clinical complexities of these types of care. Whether you’re planning ahead or responding to an urgent need, we’re here to provide care like no other.
Simply complete the form above and our team will be in touch to discuss how we support you.
The cost of palliative care can depend on each person’s unique circumstances, condition and where they would prefer to receive care.
At Ellea Nursing, we understand that everyone’s care journey is unique. That’s why the cost of our palliative care at home service is tailored entirely to your needs, reflecting the level of support required, the complexity of the condition and your bespoke wishes and circumstances.
Palliative care can be delivered by specialist healthcare professionals with experience and knowledge of palliative and end of life care. Depending on the person’s condition, requirements and health, nurses, carers and other specialists including doctors will be involved in their care.
Receiving palliative care from Ellea Nursing means a dedicated team of healthcare professionals with specialist expertise will oversee your care.
Depending on your needs, your bespoke care team may include:
- Specialist palliative nurses who are experts in symptom management, comfort and holistic support
- Experienced carers who will provide day-to-day assistance with empathy and discretion
- Clinical lead nurses who will oversee care plans and ensure medical needs are met
- Other external specialists involved in your care may include physiotherapists, psychologists and nutritionists, depending on your condition
Every member of your care team is handpicked and guided by our clinical lead nurses, ensuring you receive care like no other for as long as you need.
The duration of palliative care can depend on the person’s individual circumstances and health. The length of care can last from a few days to even years. It can also depend on what stage of their condition a person is at and when they began receiving care.
At Ellea Nursing, we’re here for the entire journey of your care. Whether that’s short-term or ongoing, our focus remains the same: to help you live with comfort, dignity and the best possible quality of life, for as long as you need us.
Choosing palliative care at home means comfort, familiarity and the presence of loved ones during what can be an emotional and delicate time.
Care at home provides a holistic and familiar environment for the person where they can benefit from:
- Closeness to loved ones – creating space for meaningful moments and shared time
- Direct support from specialist nurses and carers – tailored to your unique needs
- Peace of mind for families – knowing their loved one is safe, supported and cared for
- A calming, familiar environment reducing stress and promoting emotional wellbeing
- Support with daily routines – helping maintain a sense of normality and independence
- Flexible and bespoke care plans – allowing you to choose the frequency and duration of care
We can rapidly mobilise palliative home care within 24 hours to support you or your loved one.
To arrange care with Ellea Nursing today, please complete the short form above and our team will be in touch.