Deterioration in the last days of life (terminal phase) can be rapid and can be a time of great change in the patient’s condition. Understanding when death is imminent allows the clinical team and the family to prepare, ensuring that the patient is comfortable.
The following symptoms, commonly seen in the terminal phase, are treated in more depth in the section Symptom Management. They provide direct links to the Clinical Evidence summaries in CareSearch.
Symptoms and medicines information related to the terminal phase can also be accessed via the CareSearchgp App and apps developed by the Caring@Home project.
Home Deaths
Planning for a Home Death is a checklist of things to consider and discuss from CareSearch.
The CareSearchgp App includes the interactive GP’s Home Death Checklist which can be filled in and saved online.
The Support at Home program (968kb pdf) incorporates an End-of-Life Pathway that provides up to $25,000 over 3 months for older people with less than 3 months to live, to help them pass away with dignity in their own home.
Medicines from the PBS Prescriber's bag
Sometimes people can deteriorate suddenly. In this case anticipatory medicines may not have been arranged. The PBS prescriber's bag list (332kb pdf) includes a number of medications that can be used to relieve symptoms in this situation.
Page updated 19 March 2025