What should I ask my palliative care team?

Your loved one has recently been referred to the palliative care team and you’re preparing for the first meeting. Here are some questions you could ask:

How will palliative care benefit us?

Palliative care teams work to improve quality of life, manage symptoms, and provide emotional support. Ask how this translates for you and your loved ones’ daily life, and how support can be tailored to your particular situation.

What role will your team take in the overall care of my loved one?

Ask them to clarify their role, the range of services they can provide, and the type of support they can’t offer. This can help identify any gaps that could be addressed by other healthcare providers or family members.

How often and for how long will you be involved?

Ask about the level of support you can expect from them - in terms of time, resources, and frequency - this will help manage your expectations and allow better planning.

Who will be a part of our palliative care team?

Find out who is on your loved one’s team, what role they will play, and how they will be able to support you.

What types of support and services do you offer?

Ask about the support and services that are available to you and your loved one. These typically span outside of medical care and into wellbeing or support services.

What support do you expect from us, as family and friends?

Ask about their expectations of you as a caregiver. Reflect on your own availability, knowledge, ability and expectations and communicate these to them in return.

How can you help my loved one be as comfortable as possible?

Ask how they can support your loved one in terms of their practical, emotional and spiritual needs so that they can remain comfortable.

How can you help manage my loved one’s specific symptoms?

Ask about current and future symptoms your loved one may be experiencing and discuss the plan of action together.

Do you offer family support and counselling?

Palliative care should focus on the whole (chosen) family. So ask if they offer any services to help you cope, reflect, and feel supported.

How and when can we reach you with questions or concerns?

Ask about the best way to contact them, when they are available, and who is the right person for you to approach.

How do you handle crises or emergencies after hours?

Emergencies don’t work 9 to 5. Ask about after-hours crisis management and note down any phone numbers or contact details. Share these contact details with anyone else who will be part of your loved one’s care.

Can you help us understand the progression of the disease and what we might expect?Understanding what to anticipate as the disease progresses can help you make informed care decisions and prepare emotionally and practically for the future. Palliative care teams can provide a compassionate and realistic perspective on what your loved one and your family may encounter down the line.

What treatment options do we have?

There might be treatment options, like life-prolonging treatments, treatments for symptom relief, or other procedures that your loved one can receive alongside palliative care. Your palliative care team can help you understand the pros and cons of each.

Will you assist with advance care planning and end-of-life decisions?

An advance care plan is there to make sure that your loved one’s wishes and preferences for any end-of-life decisions are documented. Having a plan in place takes the guesswork out of decision-making for family members.

Do you offer respite care?

While it might not be something you need right away, it’s important to understand what your options are for a break down the line. Respite care can be offered both in and outside of the home. If they do not offer it directly, the palliative care team can help you organize it.