What I can do
To build meaningful relationships with older people you can:
- Take the time to listen and understand their life stories, preferences, and values
- Use open-ended questions to explore their feelings and concerns
- Encourage participation in social activities to foster connection and support discussions about what matters most to them.
As part of everyday care, you can support emotional wellbeing by:
- Offering your attention without rushing
- Providing reassurance and kindness, particularly in times of distress or uncertainty
- Observing verbal and non-verbal cues—changes in mood, withdrawal from activities, or expressions of distress - and discussing concerns with the team.
Open-ended questions about values and priorities can help people express concerns and build trust. You can ask:
- ‘What’s been important to you throughout your life?’
- ‘How have you been feeling about the changes in your care or routine?’
- ‘Who are the people or activities that bring you joy?’
Assessment tools can help you identify and respond to psychosocial needs. Get familiar with the:
What I can learn
The palliAGED Practice Tips give helpful guidance on supporting older people with psychosocial care near the end of life. There is a version for nurses as well as one for careworkers.
You can also read the related palliAGED Improving Care pages on:
To better understand the emotional and social concerns of people with serious illness, try the Caring for a patient's mental state modules (25-40 mins) from End-of-Life Essentials. While these are designed for hospitals, they can also apply to aged care.
Read the following topics in the Therapeutic guidelines: Palliative Care book (Subscription required):
- Emotional, psychological and behavioural symptoms in palliative care
- Family support in palliative care.
What I can give
If an older person, their family or carer wishes to know more about psychosocial care, these resources may help:
What I can suggest
Create spaces and opportunities for meaningful connection by:
- Designating quiet areas for private conversations and reflection
- Establishing a befriending program where trained volunteers provide companionship and end-of-life support.
To strengthen staff skills in psychosocial care you might:
- Provide communication training to help staff recognise and respond to emotional and social needs
- Include psychosocial competencies in recruitment and role descriptions.
Improve access to specialised psychosocial support by:
- Maintaining a directory of psychologists, social workers, and counsellors for referrals
- Arranging visits from specialised support workers when needed.
Page updated 27 February 2025