Cancer
Progressive or metastatic cancer with symptoms and functional decline.
Too frail for cancer treatment. Cancer treatment is for symptoms only or is not available.
Dementia or frailty
Unable to dress, walk or eat without help.
Eating and drinking less; swallowing difficulties.
Urinary or faecal incontinence.
Not able to communicate by
speaking; little social interaction.
Frequent falls; fractured femur.
Recurrent infections; aspiration pneumonia.
Neurological disease and stroke
Progressive deterioration in physical and/or cognitive function despite available therapy.
Increasing difficulty speaking and/or progressive swallowing difficulties.
Episodes of aspiration pneumonia; breathless or respiratory failure.
Ongoing disability with worsening physical and/or mental health after major stroke or multiple strokes despite best available rehabilitation.
Heart or vascular disease
Heart failure or extensive, untreatable coronary artery disease; breathlessness or chest pain at rest or on minimal effort.
Severe, inoperable peripheral vascular disease.