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Practice Tip Sheets for Careworkers Advance Care Planning Advanced Dementia Advanced Dementia Behavioural Changes After Death Choices Aged Care Access and Assessment Anxiety Cachexia Sarcopenia and Anorexia Case Conferences Complementary Therapies Constipation Continuity of Care Culturally Responsive Care Communication Distress at the End of Life Dysphagia Dyspnoea End of Life Care Pathways Eye Care Faecal Incontinence First Australians Communication Frailty Grief and Loss among Older People Families and Residents Grief and Loss among Staff Myths about Morphine Nutrition and Hydration Opioid Analgesics Oral Care Pain Management Palliative Care People with Intellectual Disability Communication People with Specific Needs Person Centred Care Psychosocial Assessment and Support Quality of Life Recognising Deterioration Respiratory Secretions Self Care Signs of Imminent Death Skin and Wound Care Spiritual Care Supporting Families Talking about Dying Talking within the Aged Care Team Next Steps for Careworkers
Tips for Careworkers:
Dyspnoea
What it is: Dyspnoea is when a person has trouble breathing or has shortness of breath.
Why it matters: Breathing difficulties are a common and distressing symptom in many advanced life-limiting diseases, and can cause significant disability, anxiety, and social isolation. Careworkers can help the older person by reporting signs of dyspnoea and keeping them calm and comfortable.
What I need to know: Breathing concerns:
- reduce quality of life
- affect emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing
- are made worse by fear and panic.
Treatment often requires a combination of measures. This includes medication and other forms of care.
People with dyspnoea get tired quickly and people who tire easily often complain of dyspnoea.
Dyspnoea in palliative care and at the end of life needs to be assessed by nursing staff.
Do
General care of dyspnoea:
- leave time between care and activities
- calm and reassure the person by being with them
- alert nursing/supervisory staff if breathing remains difficult.
Do
Non-pharmacological ways to relieve dyspnoea at end-of-life:
- optimise air flow around the person e.g. table or handheld fan, open window if appropriate
- breathing-control techniques e.g. pretend to blow out a candle
- relaxation exercises
- position the person in:
- supported upright sitting
- leaning on a supportive table
- lying in a reclining chair or electric bed with a backrest and a knee break.
Do
Get all equipment and staff ready prior to commencing care procedures. This will shorten the time taken for care and reduce the impact on the person.
My reflections:
What is the clinical term for difficulty with breathing?
What can I do to help a person having difficulty with breathing at the end of life?
For references and the latest version of all the Tip Sheets visit
Practice Tip sheets for careworkers
CareSearch is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Updated July 2022
Page updated 22 July 2026
