There is a popular misconception that palliative care is purely about end-of-life care, and therefore the care is short-term. However, most palliative care at home visits are made to people who have been living with a serious illness or disease for quite some time, who may or may not recover.
The length of time a person needs palliative care at home or in a hospital depends entirely upon their care needs and at what stage they are in their illness.
Essentially, a person can receive palliative care at home at any point in their illness. Some people receive care for their last few weeks or days, while others have support for years. You can also receive palliative care at home in conjunction with other types of care.
An individual home care plan should take account of the individual’s medical, physical, emotional, social and personal care needs. In essence, palliative care at home enables a person to live as full and comfortable a life as possible at home for however long they are assessed to need support.