Palliative care at home: equipment that can help

What palliative care at home means

Palliative care looks after the comfort of someone with a serious illness, together with the care team that supports them and their family. At home, the right equipment can make daily care easier for the person and for you.

The care team says what is needed. We rent only what they advise, and we will never ask you to take more.

Questions to ask before you leave the hospital

• Whom do we call during the day, and whom at night or at weekends?
• Which equipment do you advise for home: a bed, a mattress, oxygen or suction?
• If oxygen or suction is advised, who sets it up and when should it be used?
• How do we get medicines and supplies, and who refills them?
• Which changes should make us call the team?

Comfort in bed

A motorised hospital bed lets the person sit up, rest or change position with a button, and lets you help at the bedside without bending as much. Raise the bed to a comfortable height when you help them, and lower it again afterwards.

Protecting the skin

Someone who spends most of the day in bed needs gentle care for their skin. An alternating air mattress shifts the pressure under the body. The nurse will tell you how often to change their position and what to look out for.

If breathing becomes difficult

The care team decides whether oxygen or a suction machine is needed, and sets them. If breathing changes, call the care team first; they will tell you what to do.

We deliver and set up only what the team advises, and show you how to use it safely.

Moving safely

A wheelchair helps with short trips and time outside the room. A walker can give support on the way to the bathroom, and a commode chair can be used beside the bed. One unit is one of the two; we confirm which one with you by phone before delivery.

Looking after yourself as a caregiver

Caring for someone at home is demanding. Accept help from family and friends, take breaks when you can, and ask the care team what support is available for caregivers. If you are worried about how you are coping, talk to your own doctor.

When you no longer need the equipment

Call us, or book a pickup from My rentals, when you no longer need the equipment. We collect it at a time that suits you, with no questions.

Rent is paid per month in advance and the month you are in is not refunded. Your deposit is refunded as usual after pickup.