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  • PALLIATIVE CARE

    What is Palliative Care

    Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of individuals and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

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    • About Adult Palliative Care
    • Key Publications
    • Palliative Care Myths
  • RESOURCES

    Resources

    This part of the website contains a number of resources for adults with palliative care needs, their families and carers. They include disease specific help links, links to general service providers, information and support, policy documents, definitions of common palliative care terms and more.

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    • Condition Specific Help
    • Information and Support
    • LGBTQIA+
    • Helpful Resources
  • PALLIATIVE CARE JOURNEY

    Palliative Care Journey

    This part of the website is aimed at trying to break down into very broad terms the stages that a person may go through during their time within the palliative care service.

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    • Diagnosis and Prognosis
    • Care
    • Final Days
    • Bereavement
    • Hospital Care
    • Hospice Care
    • Community Care
    • Self Care
    • Spirituality
    • Palliative Rehabilitation
    • Breathlessness Support
    • Planning Ahead
  • SERVICES

    Services

    In this section of the website you will find links to a variety of services aimed at helping you and your family. This part of the website has been broken into two sections, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, to make it easier for you to identify services you can avail off.

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    • Northern Ireland Services
    • Republic of Ireland Services
  • PEOPLE'S STORIES
  • ABOUT US

    About Us

    All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC) in collaboration with key stakeholders developed the Adult Palliative Hub for people with palliative care needs, their families, carers and friends in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to provide information and resources about palliative care.

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    • Adult Palliative Hub Collaborators
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A man in a hospice bed surrounded by a Doctor and his family. It says on it "Hospice Care"

Home » Palliative Care Journey » Care » Hospice Care

Hospice Care

Hospice care forms an integral part of palliative care services. Below is an overview of what hospice care is, how to access services and links to the major hospice care providers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Hospice care provides compassionate care for people with a life-limiting illness and those important to them. The primary focus is on enhancing the quality of life for people and those important to them by addressing physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Hospice care aims to create a supportive and comfortable environment to help people live as fully and as comfortably as possible during their final stages of life. Hospices offer comprehensive care that includes medical and nursing services, pain and symptom management, emotional and social support and spiritual care. A holistic approach ensures that all aspects of a person’s wellbeing are addressed. While hospices can be standalone facilities, they can also be part of hospitals.

Care is provided by specialist palliative care health and social professionals, staff working in hospices have specialised in palliative care and have received specialist training to deliver these services.

People with life-limiting illnesses may be referred to the hospice for in-patient care for many reasons including management of complex pain (and other) symptoms, rehabilitation, respite or care at the end-of-life.

The general ambiance of a hospice is different to that of a hospital. Hospices aim to create a comfortable, homelike atmosphere to enhance the quality of life for those they care for. It is designed to be peaceful and supportive, often resembling a home more than a hospital. Rooms are designed to be more comfortable and less clinical with the focus being on comfort and dignity rather than on medical procedures. In hospices, creative and complimentary therapies are integral to holistic care, enhancing people’s wellbeing by addressing physical, emotional and spiritual needs. These therapies compliment conventional medical treatments, offering a more comprehensive approach to personhood and individualised care. Creative therapies may include art therapy, music therapy, gardening and pet therapy. Complimentary therapies may include aromatherapy, reiki, massage therapy and reflexology. Incorporating these therapies into hospice care provides people with opportunities for self-expression, relaxation and symptom management, thereby enhancing their quality of life.  The care that is provided is person-centred and focuses on the whole person. Those important to the person with the life-limiting illness are supported and overnight accommodation may be provided for them when needed.

Most hospices act as the hub for specialist community services in the area. This means that the community homecare team who visit people at home are based from the hospice. Day services may also be provided. This is care for people who are living at home but come into the hospice for one day per week for individualised care and support.

The hospice inpatient team works very closely with the community and day hospice teams. This ensures continuity of care for people resulting in palliative care support being available whenever and wherever the patient may be.

Hospice Videos

The following videos show people’s experiences of accessing hospice services:

Foyle Hospice, Derry/Londonderry
Watch Don McLennan experience of accessing day care services
St Francis Hospice, Dublin
Watch Alan’s experience of accessing palliative care services including complimentary therapies
Galway Hospice Foundation
Watch Brendan O’ Byrne experience of receiving palliative care
North West Hospice
Watch Adrian Tansey explaining the benefits of the hospices palliative care services

A Directory of Palliative Care Services can be found on the Irish Association of Palliative Care website:  https://iapc.ie/referral-local-services/

Links and More

Northern Ireland

  • Foyle Hospice, Derry / Londonderry
  • Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast
  • Northern Ireland Hospice, Belfast
  • Southern Area Hospice, Newry
  • Macmillan Unit, Antrim
 

Republic of Ireland

  • Donegal Hospice, Letterkenny
  • Galway Hospice, Galway and Mayo
  • Kerry Specialist Palliative Care Service, Tralee
  • Marymount University Hospital and Hospice, Cork
  • Milford Care Centre, Limerick
  • North West Hospice, Sligo
  • Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services, Dublin and Wicklow
  • South East Palliative Care Services, Waterford
  • St Brigid’s Hospice, Newbridge – Tel: 045 920011
  • St Francis Hospice, Dublin

Specialist Palliative Care Eligibility Criteria and Referral Form – RoI

Specialist palliative care (SPC) services have an important role in supporting other healthcare providers in hospital, residential care and community settings to meet the palliative care needs of people with life-limiting conditions and their families. When a person’s palliative care needs are anticipated to become, or are more complex and difficult to manage, access to SPC services is required. The National Clinical Programme for Palliative Care website includes guidance for health and social care professionals on the eligibility criteria and referral into specialist palliative care, which may be of interest to people with palliative care needs and their carers. Please note that referrals to specialist palliative care can only be made by healthcare professionals

Link to further information on referring to specialist palliative care

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All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC)
Second Floor, Education & Research Centre
Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Service
Harold’s Cross
Dublin D6W EV82

Phone: 01 491 2948
Email: info@aiihpc.org

AIIHPC Company Registration No: 744467
AIIHPC Charity Registration No: 20206781

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