National Palliative Care Week – Matters of Life and Death
Palliative Care at Home
To mark Palliative Care week, Medibank acknowledges the extraordinary work of so many palliative care workers across the country.
National Palliative Care Week runs from 21 May to 27 May 2023 with the theme of ‘Matters of Life and Death’.
Medibank partners with specialist providers to deliver a Palliative Care at Home program to customers, supporting their end-of-life to be dignified and as they choose.
Around 1000 Medibank customers have received palliative care at home since the program launched in 2017, with a total number of bed days saved (days of hospital avoided) of more than 14,000 days, which has helped alleviate some of the pressure on the stretched hospital system.
Research by The Grattan Institute found that 70% of Australians would prefer the option of end-of-life care at home, however only about 14% do so.
Medibank Group Executive Milosh Milisavljevic said the Palliative Care at Home program aims to improve the quality of life for customers who have life-limiting illnesses.
“Our program aims to support our customers and their families during this emotional time, in addition to making life more comfortable for the person in their final days,” said Mr Milisavljevic.
“For customers in the program, a team of palliative care specialists is organised to go into the home to support the customers wishes. The team may include doctors, nurses, social workers, dieticians, counsellors, pastoral care workers and trained volunteers who’ll look after the physical, mental and emotional needs of the person, and provide practical and emotional support for their family.”
Through our partnership with specialist providers, Medibank has delivered a Palliative Care at Home program to customers since 2017 and in that time, the program has grown from 47 people a year to more than 200 a year.
Medibank’s Palliative Care at Home is currently available in several locations around Australia, including:
