Palliative care is for anyone who has been diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer, neurological disorders, motor neurone disease and ends stage kidney or lung disease. Palliative care helps you to manage symptoms and improve quality of life. Some people may benefit from palliative care from the time of diagnosis with treatments often being given alongside.

Our unique local combination of hospital and community nursing teams mean you can move easily between home and hospital as your illness shifts.

By combining medical, emotional, psychological and spiritual support we enable a person to live with dignity, peace and comfort for the duration of their illness. Our care is based upon individual and family needs and
can include:

• Symptom relief
• Advance Care Planning
• Resources such as equipment to help aid care at home
• Emotional and practical support for carers and family
• Day respite and in hospital respite
• Support to access other services such as home help and financial support
• Support emotional, social, cultural and spiritual concerns
• Bereavement

Central Highlands Rural Health has a palliative care suite at Creswick, Daylesford and Kyneton hospitals, giving families a place to stay close by their loved one while our team looks after them at the end of life.

Palliative Care In the Home

Our district nurses support your wellbeing and can assist you to manage symptoms. Our experienced nurses provide quality support in your own home.

Palliative Respite Care

Sometimes carers need a break from the full-time and exhausting work of looking after a loved one. It is important to recognise your own needs, and to ask for help.

Our acute wards in Creswick, Daylesford and Kyneton has dedicated palliative respite beds that can be booked for up to two weeks at a time. The team on the acute ward will take care of your loved one around the clock so you can refresh and look after yourself.

This will give you the chance to see your family and friends, get things done or just sleep to recharge your batteries before continuing with your care role.

To receive palliative care, you can either self-refer or request your GP or healthcare professional refer you to the service. This service is funded by the government.

For more information about Palliative Care, please contact:

(03) 5422 9911 or district@chrh.org.au (for Kyneton and the Macedon Ranges)
(03) 5320 3553 (for Hepburn Shire – through Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team)