As older people near the end of life, changes in the body, underlying illnesses, and treatments themselves can cause unexpected symptoms. Early assessment and management of these symptoms can make a major difference to a person’s quality of life.

This page connects you to practice guidance on managing some of the most common symptoms you will encounter in palliative and end-of-life care.

Anxiety Dyspnoea (breathlessness) Appetite and weight loss Nausea Constipation Pain Delirum Respiratory secretions Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) Skin changes

General principles of symptom management

  • Determine likely causes and relationships between symptoms (e.g. pain and poor sleep)
  • Consider symptom impact on the person’s physical, emotional, social, and spiritual life. Tools such as the Symptom Assessment Scale and Visual Analogue Scale may be useful.
  • Involve the multidisciplinary team
  • Weigh the potential benefits and burdens of each management approach
  • Consider treatments capable of managing more than one symptom
  • Use the least burdensome route of drug administration
  • Provide psychological and emotional support
  • Develop a plan with the person that fits their prognosis, preferences and goals of care
  • Involve family and carers in care planning and ensure they have clear instructions and access to further information or support if needed
  • Always anticipate and plan for new or worsening symptoms. [1]

You can explore the current research evidence on this topic by visiting the CareSearch Clinical Evidence Summaries.

  1. Therapeutic Guidelines Limited, Palliative Care Expert Group. Therapeutic guidelines: Palliative care. Version 4. Melbourne, VIC: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; 2024.

Page updated 9 July 2026