Palliative and End of Life Care
We provide clinical expertise, responsive support, guidance, and understanding of the challenges facing both clients and families.
Trusted care when it matters most
Vitalis is a nurse-led organisation with extensive experience delivering hospital-quality palliative care in comfort, familiarity and privacy of the client’s own home.
We provide clinical excellence and full end-of-life navigation support, with all services provided by a team of highly trained, empathetic nurses and carers.
With Vitalis, you will always have...
- Everything you need to stay in your own home to the end.
- Support to guide you through complex or difficult decisions.
- Relief and assistance for the people who support you.
- Highly trained staff who are qualified to manage any pain and discomfort.
- Nurses and carers who understand what you’re going through.
- Clinical experts who work alongside your doctors.
- A plan that adapts as your needs change.
- Absolute and consistent respect for your wishes and choices.
- Absolute and consistent respect for your wishes and choices.
- A team that will be there with you and for you, every step of the way.
Vitalis provides...
Personalised care planning
Including initial assessment and ongoing support throughout the journey.
Care coordination
We liaise with your doctors, specialists and others to ensure all your needs are met.
Full range of at-home care services
Including clinical care, personal care, allied health services and pastoral care.
Connected care and support
Hospital-quality in-person care with remote monitoring and ongoing telephone support.
Rapid-response care
Robust procedures in place for deterioration and intensive end-of-life planning and response.
Human-centred support
We build trusted relationships through compassionate support for clients and loved ones.
Practical support after death
We can assist with preparation of the body and all necessary documentation.
Bereavement support
We can help family members navigate appropriate support services.
How Vitalis makes at-home palliative and end-of-life care accessible
Navigating end-of-life funding can feel overwhelming. Vitalis helps by:
1. Understanding your situation
We take the time to understand your needs.
2. Identifying available support
We determine which funding pathways may be available, including government funding (End of Life Pathway, Support at Home) and private health insurance options.
3. Coordinating assessments
We can guide you through the assessment and referral process, working with your GP, specialists and other healthcare professionals.
4. Creating a care plan
Together, we develop a personalised care plan that aligns care needs with available funding.
5. Ongoing funding management
We help ensure funds are being used effectively and can assist with reviews and adjustments when needed.
What services do Vitalis provide?
Vitalis Health specialises in meeting the clinical and personal needs of every patient. As well as identifying and understanding critical issues, we ensure patients are heard and included in their treatment and care planning. Our healthcare-at-home services are available both privately (health insurance or user pay) and publicly through public health systems, government departments and the NDIS. They include:
Hospital at Home Services
Care at Home Services
Virtual and Remote Services
Rehabilitation in the Home
Vitalis Stories
Vitalis Health’s purpose is to enable anyone who chooses to be, and who can be, to be cared for at home. We believe this delivers the best clinical outcomes and patient experience. In our blog, we highlight the innovations behind and results of being able to deliver top-quality healthcare at home in Australia.
AI is giving people answers. But who decides what they mean?
Can an algorithm understand what it takes to live well at home?
When technology stops… does care?
Patient engagement in the Vitalis Virtual Program
International Nurses Day: What Florence Nightingale would think of healthcare today
From reactive healthcare to proactive care
Short-stay hospitals and value-based care
The value of respite care: Supporting families, enabling Independence
FAQs
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is specialised care for people living with a life-limiting illness. It focuses on comfort, quality of life and helping people live as well as possible, while also providing practical and emotional support for their families and loved ones.
At Vitalis, palliative care is personalised around each person’s needs, wishes and circumstances, with a focus on providing expert care and support in the comfort and familiarity of home wherever possible.
When should we consider palliative care?
Palliative care isn’t only for the final days or weeks of life. It can begin much earlier and be provided alongside other treatment, helping to manage symptoms, maintain quality of life and give clients and families additional support as needs change.
If you’re unsure whether the time is right, talk to us. Our experienced team can help you understand your options and what support may be appropriate.
Can palliative care be provided at home?
Yes. For many people, being cared for at home means being surrounded by the people, belongings and routines that matter most to them.
Vitalis provides experienced clinical care in the home, supported by telephone support and remote monitoring where appropriate. We work closely with your existing medical team to help provide safe, coordinated and responsive care as your needs change.
What kind of care can Vitalis provide at home?
Care is tailored to the individual and can include nursing and clinical care, symptom and pain management, medication support, personal care, care coordination and support for family members and carers.
Because needs can change throughout the palliative journey, we regularly review your care and adapt the support we provide.
Where does Vitalis provide palliative care services?
Vitalis palliative care and end-of-life services are available across the Greater Sydney region. We may also be able to help you if you live outside that area. Please contact us to discuss.
What happens if my or my loved one's condition changes?
Changes can sometimes happen quickly during palliative care, which is why having experienced clinical support is so important.
Vitalis combines in-person clinical care with ongoing telephone support and, where appropriate, remote monitoring. This connected approach helps us identify changing needs, provide timely advice and coordinate additional care or medical support when required.
How does Vitalis work with our GP, specialist or palliative care team?
We believe the best care is coordinated care. Our clinicians work alongside your GP, specialists, hospital teams and other healthcare professionals to help ensure everyone involved understands your needs, preferences and care plan.
For families, this means having an experienced team helping to coordinate the clinical journey rather than having to navigate everything alone.
How are family members and carers supported?
Palliative care affects the whole family. As well as caring for the client, our team provides families and carers with guidance, practical information and reassurance throughout the journey.
We encourage you to ask questions, raise concerns and talk openly with us. Our role is to help you feel informed, confident and supported as circumstances change.
Can you help us understand palliative care funding?
Yes. Funding can be difficult to navigate, particularly at a time when families already have a great deal to think about.
Vitalis can help you understand the funding options that may be available to you, navigate relevant assessment and referral processes, and plan how available funding can be used effectively to support your care needs.
Is government funding available for end-of-life care at home?
Eligible older Australians may be able to access the Australian Government’s Support at Home End-of-Life Pathway. The pathway provides additional funding for eligible people who have been diagnosed with three months or less to live and wish to remain at home.
Eligibility and individual circumstances vary, so our team can help you understand the pathway, the assessment process and other funding options that may be available to you
Is palliative and end-of-life care covered by private health insurance?
Some private health insurers provide palliative/end-of-life coverage for eligible members. Eligibility and individual circumstances vary, so our team can work with you and your health fund to establish what may be available to you.
What makes Vitalis different from other palliative care providers?
Vitalis combines compassionate, personalised support with significant clinical capability. As a nurse-led organisation, we provide hospital-quality in-person care backed by strong clinical governance and accreditation to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.
Our approach extends beyond scheduled visits. We can combine care in the home with remote monitoring, telephone support, care coordination and funding guidance, providing clients and families with an experienced team to support them throughout the journey.
Will I have a say in how my care is provided?
Absolutely. Your wishes, values and priorities are central to the way we plan and provide your care.
We take the time to understand what matters to you and your family and develop a personalised approach around those choices. As circumstances or preferences change, your care can change with them.
How do we get started?
You don’t need to have everything worked out before contacting Vitalis. In fact, speaking with us early can help you understand what’s available and make decisions without feeling rushed.
Contact our team for a confidential conversation about your situation, your care needs and the support and funding options that may be available. We’re here to answer your questions and help you determine the next step.