End of life care – planning, support and services

End of life care helps you plan your wishes, stay comfortable, and receive support at home, in a care home, or through hospice services.

Last updated: 24th November

What is end of life care?

End of life care is about making sure you are comfortable, supported, and treated with dignity in the last stages of life. It also helps your family and carers cope during this time.

Good planning means you can often stay in your own home or care home if you choose, rather than being admitted to hospital.

Planning your care and wishes

Talking about dying can be difficult, but planning ahead helps make sure your wishes are respected. You should discuss your preferences with your family, carers, and health professionals.

Things to consider:

  • Where you would like to be cared for
  • Who should be involved in your care
  • Any specific wishes about treatment or comfort

You can write these down in an End of Life Care Plan. A useful tool is the Preferred Priorities for Care document, which helps you record your choices.

Choosing a service

When choosing an end of life care service, check that:

  • The service has an open and supportive approach
  • It works with you, your family, and your GP to plan your care
  • Staff are trained in communication and understand how to support you and your carers

What is the gold standards framework?

This is a quality standard used by hospitals, care homes, and GP practices to improve end of life care. It focuses on good communication and coordination between services. You can ask providers if they follow this framework.

Website: Gold standards framework

Hospice care

Hospices provide expert care for people at the end of life. They can help with pain relief, symptom control, and emotional support.

Most hospices offer:

  • In-patient care for short stays
  • Home visits from specialist nurses
  • Counselling for patients, carers, and families

Your GP or hospital team can refer you to a hospice. You can also find local hospices through the NHS website.

Hospices in Staffordshire include:

Hospice finder - Hospice Care Finder | Hospice UK