Karuna services
Karuna Hospice Service provides person and family centred home-based (where you live) compassionate, specialised palliative care to patients with active, progressive and advanced disease, who have little or no prospect of a cure. The Karuna team understands the impact of a terminal diagnosis on individuals, their carers and family members. Therefore, Karuna care aims to:
- Optimise quality of life
- Alleviate pain and suffering
- Provide care that that is tailored to individual and families needs
- Enhance emotional and spiritual well-being
- Respect end of life wishes.
We are committed to providing an inclusive service that is open to people of all ages, faiths, genders, cultural backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ identities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Service Hours and Location
The service is offered seven days a week at no cost and currently covers the Brisbane’s Northern suburbs and into Caboolture, Redcliffe and Bribie Island.
Clinical team
The Karuna team consists of specialist palliative care nurses, a palliative doctor, social workers, spiritual care worker and counsellors. This multidisciplinary team works in collaboration with your GP and/or specialist to provide the following services:
- Assessment of health, social and emotional needs
- Pain and symptom management
- After hours nursing support
- Emotional support and counselling
- Bereavement support
- Spiritual care
- Practical and social support
- Carer education, training and support
- Linkage to other community and social services
- Volunteer Support Service
Eligibility and referrals
To be eligible for the service the person needs to:
- have a life limiting illness and prognosis.
- require symptom management.
- consent to palliative care referral or have an appointed Enduring Power of Attorney who agrees on their behalf
- have the support of carer at home if remaining at home for the end-of-life phase
- live within the Karuna catchment area
A GP or medical specialist can complete referrals. You can also self-refer by completing a self-referral enquiry HERE.
If you are needing urgent palliative care support, please ask your treating doctor to contact us directly on 07 3632 8300.