Check your quality of life: Lung Foundation Australia launches new Palliative Care tool

Lung Foundation Australia is launching a new Quality of Life checklist for patients as a part of National Palliative Care week, 25^th – 31^st May.

This tool facilitates an early conversation between patients and health professionals about their quality of life and supportive and palliative care services.

The Quality of Life checklist helps identify whether patients with lung disease have any unmet needs in their healthcare or could improve their overall quality of life.

Lung Foundation Australia’s Project Manager, Self-Management and Palliative Care, Melissa Ram said studies have shown that accessing supportive and palliative care services earlier in their disease progression is beneficial.

“This is especially the case if everyday tasks are becoming more difficult and patients are less able to function independently”, Mrs Ram said.

“It does not mean people are near the end of their life, in fact, the earlier they access these services the better quality of life they will have”, she said.

“Supportive and palliative care allows people to enhance their life in a way that is meaningful to them.”

“It is a process that is designed to assist people throughout their disease journey to have better control of their disease and its symptoms, starting from the day of their diagnosis right through to various end-of-life issues.

Lung Foundation Australia encourages early discussion of supportive and palliative care services between health professionals and patients, carers and family.

Services within the health care system that could help patients include occupational therapy, home care, pulmonary rehabilitation and other exercise or peer support groups, speech pathology, meal delivery services or assistance with the care of your home.

(Source: Lung Foundation Australia)