End of life and palliative care: what to expect and what to ask a care home

Health & daily life · 4 min read · Last updated 2 November 2026

Few families want to think about the end of a relative's life, but talking about it early makes things easier for everyone. Many older people spend their final months or years in a care home, so it is worth asking how a home supports residents at this stage. This guide uses NHS information to explain what end of life care involves. Services differ by country, so ask locally. It is general information, not medical or legal advice.

What end of life care involves

According to the NHS, end of life care supports people in the last months or years of life, helping them live as well as possible and die with dignity. Care is planned around the person's wishes and preferences, and it includes support for family, carers and others close to them.

Palliative care is a holistic approach that manages pain and distressing symptoms and provides psychological, social and spiritual support. The NHS says palliative care can start when someone is first diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and can continue alongside treatment aimed at the condition itself.

When does it start?

The NHS says end of life care should begin when needed, and may last a few days, several months or more than a year. Someone is considered to be approaching the end of life if they are likely to die within the next 12 months, though this cannot always be predicted. This includes:

  • People with an advanced incurable illness, such as cancer, dementia or motor neurone disease.
  • Frail people with other conditions who are expected to die within 12 months.
  • People whose existing condition could become fatal if it suddenly worsens.
  • People who have a sudden life-threatening event, such as a serious accident or stroke.

Who provides it, and where

Many professionals may be involved, including doctors and nurses, GPs, community nurses, hospice staff, counsellors, social care staff, chaplains, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The NHS says that in England a GP has overall responsibility for care at home or in a care home, and that specialist palliative care teams coordinate care and advise other professionals.

Care can be given at home, in a care home, in a hospice or in hospital, depending on needs and preferences. The NHS says people have the right to state where they would like to receive care and where they want to die. How this works in practice differs between countries, so ask local services what is available and whether your relative can stay in the care home at the end of life.

Planning ahead

  • Record your relative's wishes about where they would like to be cared for and where they would like to die, and discuss them with the people providing their care.
  • Consider a lasting power of attorney, which lets the person or people they choose make decisions about their care if they can no longer make them. The NHS describes this for England. Other countries have their own versions: see legal documents for care abroad.
  • Do this while your relative can still take part. Our guide on talking to a parent about moving has tips for hard conversations.

Questions to ask a care home

These are our suggested questions. Ask them early, ideally before moving in:

  • Can residents stay in the home at the end of life, or are they moved to hospital or a hospice?
  • Do you have staff with palliative care training, and which doctors, nurses or palliative teams do you work with?
  • How do you record and follow residents' wishes?
  • How is pain managed, and who is responsible for medicines at this stage? See managing medicines in a care home.
  • Can family stay overnight or visit at any time?
  • Can religious, spiritual or cultural needs and customs be respected?
  • What support is there for other residents and for family afterwards?

Frequently asked questions

Is palliative care the same as end of life care?

They overlap, but the NHS says palliative care can start when someone is first diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and can continue alongside treatment for the condition. End of life care is for the last months or years of life.

Can someone die in a care home?

The NHS says care can be provided at home, in a care home, in a hospice or in hospital, and that people have the right to state where they would like to receive care and where they want to die. Policies differ between homes and countries, so ask the home directly.

Who should we speak to first?

The NHS suggests speaking to the GP, or calling the number the healthcare team gave you, to find local end of life services. Where your relative lives, begin with their doctor and the care home.

Sources and further reading

This guide is general information only, compiled from the public sources listed above as of the date shown. It is not legal, medical, tax, financial or care advice, and we cannot guarantee that it is complete, accurate or up to date. Rules, thresholds and prices change and differ by country and region, and some sources describe other countries' rules as examples. Check details with the authorities and care homes named, and take professional advice for your own situation before you act. If you spot an error, please email [email protected] and we will correct it.