Palliative care resources
Key points about palliative care resources
- Palliative care is the provision of caring and dignified support and services for people of all ages facing a life-limiting condition.
- It's provided wherever the person is, whether that is in their home, hospital, community clinic or hospice.
- This page provides links to useful resources for people receiving palliative care services and their whānau or carers.

You can receive palliative care wherever you choose to be – at home, in hospital or in residential care. Hospice care is available where this support is seen as needed by you and your healthcare team.
Many health professionals and support agencies may be involved in your care including your usual healthcare providers, district nurses and any other medical specialists who are part of your regular care such as an oncologist or kidney specialist. This is known as primary palliative care.
If you’ve been referred to a specialist palliative care team in the hospital or by referral to a hospice, your healthcare provider will continue to be involved in your care. The palliative care team will help co-ordinate your care in partnership with your wider healthcare team, family, hospital and community organisations.
Hospices around Aotearoa New Zealand provide support to people who are living with a terminal illness and their whānau. Most people are referred to their local hospice by their GP or main healthcare provider. Anyone is welcome to contact their local hospice to find out more about their services. Hospice care is free for anyone in Aotearoa New Zealand who’s eligible for free healthcare.
Find out more at Hospice New Zealand(external link).
Te Hokinga ā Wairua End of Life Service(external link) Te Hokinga ā Wairua End of Life Service, NZ
A Hospice Guide for Carers(external link) Hospice NZ
5 ways resource series Hospice NZ
- Ways to talk to a child about death(external link)
- Tips for writing condolences(external link)
- Conversation starters with your family(external link)
- Ways to help someone who is grieving(external link)
- Myths about palliative care(external link)
- How to talk about death(external link)
- Things you might not know about death(external link)
Palliative Outcomes Initiative NZ resources
- What is palliative care? Simplified Chinese/English(external link), Korean/English(external link), Samoan/English(external link), Tongan/English(external link), Hindi/English(external link)
- Living with life limiting illness English/Arabic, English/Simplified Chinese(external link), English/Hindi(external link), English/Korean(external link), English/Samoan(external link), English/Tongan(external link)
- Hospice care Arabic/English(external link), Simplified Chinese/English(external link), Cook Islands Māori/English(external link), Hindi/English(external link), Korean/English(external link), te reo Māori/English(external link), Samoan/English(external link), Tongan/English(external link)
Personal cares, resources developed to help answer questions carers may have around oral care, and appetite and eating
- Fluids and the use of artificial hydration(external link) St Christopher’s Hospice, London
- Why won’t they eat?(external link) St Christopher’s Hospice, London
Note: This resource is from overseas so some details may be different in NZ, eg, phone 111 for emergencies or, if it’s not an emergency, freephone Healthline 0800 611
Hospice NZ has published a booklet called A Hospice Guide for Carers(external link). This is an excellent resource for friends and family which covers practical and emotional issues around caring for someone with a terminal illness.
Skylight(external link) is a not-for-profit NZ organisation who specifically support children and young people affected by loss and grief.
The Cancer Society(external link) provides services and support for terminally ill patients and families.
Hospice NZ(external link)
Find a hospice near you(external link)
Information for patients(external link) Hospice New Zealand
Information for carers and whānau(external link) Hospice New Zealand
References
- About palliative care(external link) Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
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