End-of-life care supports a person who may be approaching the final stage of a life-limiting illness. It should focus on comfort, dignity, individual wishes and the people important to them. Planning and support can begin before the final days of life, as needs change and decisions need to be discussed.
This page is general information for families. It does not replace individual medical, nursing or legal advice. If there is an emergency, call 999. For questions about a particular person, speak with the healthcare professionals involved in their care.
What does end-of-life care involve?
End-of-life care is shaped around the person rather than delivered as a fixed list of services. Each person’s support is different because their health, relationships, preferences, culture and practical circumstances are different. The focus is on understanding what matters to them and reviewing support as their needs change.
Depending on the person’s circumstances and the setting, support may include comfort-focused personal care, nursing assessment and monitoring, and help with everyday routines. It may also include emotional and spiritual support, time to talk, and sensitive communication with the family or other people the person wants involved.
Individual care planning helps the people involved understand the person’s priorities and how support should be reviewed. Advance care planning can give someone an opportunity to discuss their wishes for future care while they are able to take part. Families may also want to discuss who should be kept informed, what is important at home or in a care setting, and how different professionals will communicate.
Coordination with healthcare professionals is another important part of care. A nursing team may communicate with the relevant professionals involved in a person’s care so that information is shared and decisions are considered in the right context. The precise people involved depend on the individual situation.
Palliative care and end-of-life care: what is the difference?
Palliative care aims to improve comfort and quality of life for someone with a serious or life-limiting illness. It considers the person as a whole and may be provided alongside other treatment. Palliative support can begin at different points in an illness and may continue as needs change.
End-of-life care relates more specifically to support and planning as someone approaches the end of life. It includes care for the person and support for the people important to them, with attention to comfort, dignity, communication and individual wishes. The two terms are not competing choices: end-of-life care can be part of palliative care, and both approaches can involve planning and a coordinated team.
Families do not need to decide which label is correct before asking a question. The healthcare professionals involved can explain what the terms mean in the person’s circumstances and what support may be appropriate.
When should families ask for support?
Families often seek help after a hospital admission, following a change in health, or when extra nursing support is being considered. Some people start the conversation when everyday care has become harder to coordinate, while others want to understand possible options and plan ahead before an urgent decision is needed.
There is no need to have every detail prepared. It can help to write down what has changed, where the person is currently receiving care, who is involved, what the person has said about their wishes and which questions the family would like answered. This gives the relevant team a starting point for a calm conversation.
Asking for information does not commit a family to a particular setting or decision. It is an opportunity to understand the next step, who needs to be involved and whether an individual assessment is needed.
Support at Wyndley Grange
Wyndley Grange is a nurse-led care home in Sutton Coldfield and provides 24-hour nursing support. The home may be considered as a nurse-led nursing-home option for a person whose needs can be safely met there.
The team can discuss whether the home may be able to meet a relative’s needs after an individual assessment and subject to current availability. No place, transfer or outcome can be promised in advance. The assessment is important because every person’s needs and circumstances are different.
To understand the wider choices, read the guide to end-of-life care options. You can also explore planning ahead, support for families, the palliative care guide, frequently asked questions and information about Wyndley Grange.