Palliative Care is care and support provided to people who have a progressive, life limiting illness. Palliative Care aims to improve the quality of life for patients, their families and carers by addressing their many needs; physical (including treatment assessment and management of pain and other symptoms), emotional, social, cultural and spiritual needs.
Whilst it could be a difficult conversation, it’s best to start having end of life conversations at an early stage of the illness.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse people, and queer people (LGBTQ people) are at increased risk of some chronic diseases and cancers. NSW Health palliative care health policy prioritises equitable access to quality care, however, little is known about community members’ perspectives on palliative care.
AIDS Council of NSW, ACON, has published a toolkit that attempts to make it easier to open conversations about death and dying.
This toolkit provides ideas about things to consider and decide when it comes to your own death and how to support a loved ones wishes if faced with their death.
Looking at it through an LGBTQ+ lens, it helps to explore their unique lived experiences and the different issues they face.
Topics include:
- Ageing as an LGBTQ+ person,
- Needing Care,
- Death Planning,
- Caring for yourself and others, and more.
Please click HERE to access this fantastic resource.