End-of-life care : proactive clinical management of older Australians in the community

Due to the changing demographics of ageing and death in Australia, general practitioners (GPs) are caring for greater numbers of people with advanced chronic conditions that will soon lead to death. GPs play a pivotal role in proactively preparing these people for end of life.This article introduces GPs to a framework of care, based on a palliative care approach, which supports proactive management of end-of-life care for older Australians living in the community.Embedding the above framework into routine practice can help GPs deliver care, aligned with patients' preferences, at the right time and in the right place. Experience has shown that implementing proactive management of end-of-life care can increase satisfaction with GP care and help GPs meet the clinical, legal and ethical challenges associated with caring for older patients with advanced progressive conditions.