Guidelines for Palliative Home Care in South Africa During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Below is a collection of evolving resources that has been created during the COVID-19 pandemic to support health professionals facing decisions around discharging COVID-19 positive patients’ home for palliative or end of life care, and the families of those patients onto whom the care burden will fall. Although difficult decisions will need to be made regarding the distribution of resources and patients’ access to these resources1 care should not be compromised.

We, alongside the WHO, strongly advocate for all COVID-19 patients to have access to palliative care support and resources, for symptom control, psychosocial and spiritual care and where needed, for end of life care, no matter where they receive their care. The focus of these guidelines is the support and care in the community or home environment. Furthermore, we urge that the family members/informal carers of patients who do not have easy access to healthcare systems due to their geographical location be supported in providing adequate home care should the patient choose to stay at home or be unable to be transported to hospital. There needs to be support in place for these patients, and their families, accessible in the home environment to manage symptoms and prevent further infection and spread of the virus into the community.

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