About this site

Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of people who are experiencing a life-limiting illness and also supports their families. It helps to prevent and relieve suffering through the early identification, assessment and treatment of pain and other physical, emotional and spiritual problems.

This website provides core information that is targeted at family members or friends who are providing support to a person who needs palliative care. These people are often referred to as ‘carers’. Throughout this website we will refer to you as a ‘carer’ and the person requiring palliative care as your ‘relative’ (even though they may in fact be a friend).

The aim of this website is to help you to understand how palliative care may assist your relative and also provides advice on how you can best support him/her whilst also looking after yourself.

The website contains eight main sections – within each section you will find links to useful websites and fact sheets. If there is something you do not understand or, if you require detailed information about services in your area please contact a healthcare professional. Services vary across the island of Ireland but the core information provided here is designed to help you support someone experiencing a life-threatening illness.

Organisations Involved