Living with meaning: palliative and end-of-life care

Juniper has launched its LIFE Model for palliative and end-of-life care.

Building on current practices, the LIFE Model aligns with Palliative Care Australia’s philosophy that end-of-life is not about adding days to life, but life to days.

Juniper Palliative Care Lead Sarah Hunter said Juniper’s LIFE Model, for customers, families and staff, is a shared approach to palliative and end-of-life care, designed to embed a compassionate, safe and personal approach into everyday care.

“At Juniper our approach to palliative and end-of-life care is compassionate, safe, and part of everyday life. We believe every person has the right to live life well, and by caring well, we can live well until the end,” Sarah said.

“Our model reflects Juniper’s values of welcome, respect, compassion, hope and courage, as well as our vision of ensuring we support our customers to live life well.

“Palliative care isn’t an add-on. It’s woven into daily support at Juniper so that people feel safe and valued and we deliver on what matters most: attending to our customers’ wishes, values and cultural needs.”

The LIFE Model is about living well, by caring well, until the end:

Listen & Look, noticing changes in health and comfort, listening to what matters most and attending carefully to needs, values and preferences.

Initiate, starting conversations about customers’ wishes, priorities and goals of care, ensuring customers guide care decisions.

Facilitate, planning with customers and their loved ones to protect and respect their comfort, dignity, and cultural and spiritual needs.

Engage, providing comfort, keeping families informed and supporting workers and loved ones through the end-of-life journey.

This National Palliative Care Week (10-16 May) week Palliative Care Australia is championing Getting to the heart of it: Big Questions. Real Answers.

This campaign is designed to encourage anyone living with a life-limiting condition to live well, focusing on quality of life and maintaining connections; having conversations with carers and loved ones to support better planning and care and, getting to the heart of meaningful care, acknowledging that quality care is personal, safe and respectful.

To read more about Juniper’s approach to Palliative and End of Life Care and some handy resources, click here.