Resthaven provides palliative care and support for residents and clients living with a chronic illness or life-limiting condition.
Our focus is on quality of life — supporting people to live as well as possible, for as long as possible.
Palliative care is not only about end of life. When the focus of care shifts from ‘cure’ to ‘care’, palliative care can make a meaningful difference to comfort, dignity, and wellbeing for individuals and their families.
“To be looking after someone in their final days is an absolute honour”
Our philosophy is to maintain or improve quality of life through the prevention and relief of suffering.
We provide care that is respectful, compassionate, and person-centred, recognising the unique needs, values, and wishes of each individual.
This may include:
Management of physical symptoms, such as pain or discomfort
Support for emotional, social, spiritual, and cultural needs
Support and guidance for carers and family members
Respect for individual choices, preferences, and beliefs
Palliative and end-of-life care is everyone’s business — not just the role of nurses and doctors. Dying is more than a physical process; it is a deeply personal experience that may involve social, cultural, spiritual, and emotional dimensions.
A skilled and supported care team
To ensure the highest standard of care, each of Resthaven’s 12 residential care homes is supported by a dedicated and experienced team.
This includes registered nurses, clinical nurses, and care coordinators who work closely with residential managers, GPs, and allied health professionals.
Resthaven employs a specialist Palliative Care team, including senior palliative care nurses and Advanced Practice Nurses, who provide expert clinical support, education, and guidance — particularly when care needs become complex.
Our staff and volunteers play an important role in palliative care, whether through direct clinical care, emotional support for families, or coordination of services and resources. Ongoing training ensures staff feel competent, confident, and supported in what can be challenging but deeply rewarding work.
Palliative care planning
Resthaven’s Palliative Care team supports residents, clients, and their families to discuss and document preferences for future care and decision-making.
A palliative care plan may include:
Care options, nursing support, and pain management strategies
Management of pain and other symptoms
Emotional, spiritual, cultural, and psychosocial support
Support for family members throughout decision-making
Clear explanations of what to expect during the palliative phase and bereavement process
An outline of how staff will provide support during palliative and end-of-life care
If additional nursing support is required, extra hours of assistance may be purchased.
Advance care planning helps you make decisions about your future health care, end-of-life preferences, living arrangements, and personal matters.
It’s especially important for older people or those managing a chronic illness, as there may come a time when you cannot make or communicate decisions for yourself.
A written advance care plan clearly communicates your wishes, values, and treatment preferences to staff — providing guidance in an emergency or if your needs change.
At Resthaven, pastoral care supports the whole person — physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.
Chaplains are skilled in supporting people through changing circumstances, loss, and end-of-life experiences. They work sensitively with residents, clients, families, and care teams to provide comfort, meaning, and connection during times of need.
Caring for someone with dignity, comfort, and respect at the end of life is both a responsibility and an honour.
Resthaven’s clinical services team supports the physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural wellbeing of people nearing the end of life, as well as their loved ones. Staff focus on comfort measures such as:
Pain and symptom relief
Comfortable positioning
Skin, continence, mouth, and eye care
Gentle, reassuring presence and support
Small comfort measures — such as soothing eye care or a warm face washer — can make a meaningful difference.
“It’s the little comfort things that make all the difference.”
Caresearch blog post by Karen Gregory, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse, Resthaven Inc
Supporting informed choice and end-of-life decisions
Resthaven supports the rights of older people to make informed choices and decisions about their care and services, including their end-of-life wishes.
Residents and clients are supported to access palliative and end-of-life care in both residential aged care homes and community-based (Home Support) settings. Care is delivered in a way that reflects the individual’s:
Clinical needs
Psychosocial circumstances
Spiritual or religious beliefs
Cultural background and preferences
In line with Resthaven’s commitment to informed choice at end of life, Resthaven supports the rights of older people to seek information about, or access to, Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) services while receiving care and support through Resthaven.
Bereavement support for family members and significant others is available as needed.
Our teams remain mindful of the emotional impact of loss and offer guidance and support beyond the death of a loved one.
What families say
“All of the care was wonderful, but the palliative care was just beautiful. The staff were always friendly and kind — from carers, nurses, housekeeping, laundry, admin and everyone else. Mum called this her home and loved it here. We cannot thank you enough.”
Palliative Care South Australia (PCSA) is a leading charity and independent peak body representing palliative care providers, the community and people experiencing a serious illness, dying, death and grief, as well as those with an interest in palliative care across South Australia.
Suite 4, 213 Greenhill Rd
Eastwood, South Australia 5063
A free online resource for health and aged care practitioners and consumers, carers and their families on end of life and palliative care issues.
The Commonwealth Government has funded the development and maintenance of this site to ensure everyone has access to high quality, reliable evidence-based information, guidelines, tools and resources.
Provides grief counselling services and support to individuals and groups, as well as educational and training programs for grief and loss.
Free grief counselling to aged care recipients, their families, loved ones and aged care staff: Download “My Grief” app (also available via the Google Play and Apple Stores.)
End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) is a free resource funded by the Australian Government Department of Health to support quality care for older Australians at the end of life.
Evidence-based toolkits bring together information and resources for workers across different areas such as: Recognising the End of Life, Assess Palliative Care Needs, Manage Dying, After Death Care and Bereavement, Organisational Support and End of Life Law.
Toolkits are free and available on the ELDAC website
A state-wide service funded by the Australian Government through Palliative Care that provides information and links to palliative care and bereavement supports to south Australians.
Ph: 1800 725 548 – Information available for people with life-limiting illnesses, palliative or end of life, their family members, friends, and carers, as well as healthcare professionals.
A website which lists a selection of high-quality online bereavement resources, alongside links to online and face-to-face services available to all South Australians.
An online resource designed to help those needing relevant and trustworthy information about palliative care. Funded by the Australian Government as part of the National Palliative Care Program.
