Death is an inevitable part of life. The goal of palliative care is to provide people with a life-limiting or terminal illness the opportunity to live the best life possible. A life-affirming approach supports people to live comfortably and fully by emphasising the following:
- living well with deteriorating health; and
- enhancing quality of life while they are alive.
The following questions may assist the palliative person identify where assistance is required:
- Are you comfortable?
- Are you in pain?
- How are you coping emotionally?
- What questions do you have?
- Are you concerned about finances, legal issues, transport, domestic support etc.?
- Have you made plans for the future regarding health care?
- Have you made plans for the future regarding those who are important to you?
- Are you able to socialise or spend time with those important to you as much as you wish?
- Are you as independent as you would like to be?
- What is really important to you at this time?
- How do you wish to spend your time?
- What is one thing that you could do which would make this time easier for you?
- In your opinion, at this point in time, what makes your life worth living?
