Palhelp for anyone in Southern Tasmania, with a life-limiting palliative condition.
About Palhelp Compassionate Palliative Support Services
Palhelp is dedicated to providing support and companionship to individuals with life-limiting palliative conditions in Southern Tasmania.
Our volunteers offer companionship in various settings, including homes, communities, and healthcare facilities. We can also help you to understand the importance of advance care planning.
Coming soon: a new life service helping you to record your life stories.
Community Support
We help you to live your best quality of life. Keep doing the things you want to do, with a caring supporter. Palhelp offers compassionate palliative support services aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with life-limiting conditions. Our trained volunteers provide emotional and social support, offering companionship and assistance to ensure you can continue doing the things you love. Whether you need help at home, in the community, or during medical appointments, Palhelp is here to make every day matter. Based in Southern Tasmania, we are committed to delivering heartfelt care and support for those in need.
We wish to acknowledge & pay respect to the palawa people of lutruwita/Tasmania, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and meet today, the Muwinina people. We recognise their continuing connection to the land, sea and sky has never been broken, sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people present today.
Your Life Story biography
Ever wanted to write your life stories?
A Palhelp biographer will help you to record your story, told your way.
Your volunteer biographer will record your stories each week, over several weeks, at your own pace.
You receive the story book and digital transcript.
This service will be available in 2025
4058
People Supported
Skilled
Palhelp volunteer
Advice
Assistance
South Tas
In Community
In Hospitals
At Home
New Service
Advance Care Planning support
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Is there a cost for Palhelp's services?No, Palhelp provides all of our services at no cost to you. We are funded by the Tasmanian Health Service, donations, and other grants to support people in Southern Tasmania.
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Who does Palhelp not support?Palhelp is available to everyone across Southern Tasmania with a life-limiting palliative illness. However, there are certain limitations: - We may not have a volunteer available at the specific time and place you need. - Our volunteers cannot provide companionship for people with advanced dementia or challenging behaviors. - We do not support individuals living in residential care homes or those receiving mental health treatment plans. If we cannot assist you, we will do our best to recommend other services.
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Who does Palhelp support?Palhelp supports individuals with a life-limiting palliative condition. You can contact us directly for assistance, or your healthcare provider can make a referral at any time.
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Where can I get assistance from Palhelp?Contact us by phone or email, or via our facebook page or website to ask for a volunteer companion weekly visit, at your home, in Southern Tasmania. If you are a palliative patient in hospital, you may be able to see a Palhelp volunteer on the ward in the Royal Hobart Hospital or in the J W Whittle Unit. If you have had a bereavement, de to a family member who had a palliative illness, yu may be able to jin our bereavement support program 'Walking Through Grief'.
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What does 'palliative' mean?A palliative illness is a life-limiting condition for which there is currently no cure. It focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family.
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Which illnesses does Palhelp provide palliative care for?At Palhelp, we provide compassionate and specialized palliative care for individuals suffering from a range of serious illnesses. Our team can help with the emotional and spiritual needs of patients with life-limiting conditions such as: - Advanced cancer - Heart disease - Lung disease - Kidney failure - Liver disease - Multiple sclerosis - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - Other progressive neurological disorders. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for both patients and their families by providing emotional support throughout their journey.
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Someone in my family has been told they are palliative. Does that mean they are about to die?People with a palliative condition can live for years, months or less. It all depends on the illness and how far advanced that illness is and on many other complex factors. It's often not an easy question to answer. Your family member can talk to their specialist medical provider to find out about what's wrong and what the prognosis is for their particular condition at this time. At all stages of a palliative illness, your healthcare providers can provide treatment including medical and psychosocial care. It's important to connect with a palliative care specialist as early as possible, as they will be able to support you to continue to lead your best life.
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What is Specialist Palliative Care?A: Specialist Palliative Care involves comprehensive medical care designed to improve the quality of life for patients with serious or life-limiting illnesses. The Specialist Palliative Care team focuses on relieving symptoms, managing pain, and addressing emotional, social, and spiritual needs. This type of care is tailored for individuals at any stage of their illness, not just those nearing the end of life. By integrating the efforts of a multidisciplinary team—including doctors, nurses, social workers, and chaplains—you and your family receive holistic support. Specialist Palliative Care teams provide personalized and empathetic attention that upholds dignity and comfort. Palhelp volunteers work alongside the Specialist Palliative Cre Team, who often refer patients to us. Talk to a member of your care team if you think you would like our support.
