End of life home care is an emerging concern for many families faced with a diagnosis or prognosis for which curative treatment is no longer an option. It is often a difficult crossroads, with the patient wishing to return home, but the family may not know where to begin or how to manage the care required. They want to respect the patient’s wishes during the final stage of life, in familiar surroundings, close to family and faith. Yet the journey from hospital to home raises many questions. Is the home ready? Is the family ready? What happens if things change?

Over more than ten years of caring for families in Dubai, our palliative care team has walked this path many times. Here, we share what we have learned, including what happens when plans change, so that you can make the decision that is right for your family.

The First Conversation About End of Life Home Care

When a family contacts us about palliative care, we always ask to meet face to face. A phone call is not the right way to discuss something so sensitive. Families deserve the time and respect of sitting together.

Our case manager begins with two questions:

What does the family understand? “Can you tell me what you know about what is happening?” We also ask who else in the family is aware of the patient’s condition.
What does the patient understand? How much do they know about their condition, and how much do they want to know?

The answers help us understand how prepared the family is and how much they are ready to discuss. Some families are ready to talk openly about what lies ahead in the home environment. Others need more time, and that is perfectly understandable. We follow their pace.

Learning From How Other Families Have Managed

Once a family is ready, we ask whether they would like to hear how other families have approached caring at home. The answer is almost always yes. Many families tell us, “We don’t know where to begin.”

We explain honestly that this period requires considerable family involvement. With nursing support, family members can take time to rest while continuing to care for the patient and manage their work and home responsibilities.

Equipment is another worry. Buying a medical bed and pressure-relieving mattress for what may be a short period can be very costly. For our palliative care families, we provide the necessary equipment as part of our service, so there is one less thing to arrange. Much of this equipment has been donated by families we have cared for previously, with our promise to make it available to others in similar circumstances. Their generosity continues to benefit new families.

Is the Plan of Care Ready for Home?

Before a patient leaves hospital, we check that the medical plan of care is clear and agreed upon. The most valuable step is the family’s conversation with the hospital’s Palliative Care Consultant.

How to find a Palliative Care Consultant

If your family member does not yet have a Palliative Care Consultant, you can:

Ask the treating doctor or specialist for a referral to the hospital’s palliative care team.
Ask the hospital directly whether it has a palliative care service.
Check with your insurance provider about coverage and approved hospitals.
Ask our team, as we can guide you to hospital palliative care services in Dubai.

Several Dubai hospitals have specialist palliative care teams. From our first-hand experience, the teams at American Hospital Dubai and Mediclinic, whose consultants include Dr Katie Sweeting, Consultant in Supportive and Palliative Medicine, provide excellent palliative medical management. Our nurses rely on their clear medical direction when caring for patients at home.

We ask the family what was discussed. Then, with their permission, we confirm the medical plan with the hospital’s palliative care team. If the family’s understanding is consistent with the medical team’s plan, everyone can move forward with confidence. If there are gaps, we address them before discharge to help prevent misunderstandings.

We also look honestly at whether symptoms can be managed at home:

Pain: This is often the most challenging symptom. Some strong pain medicines given by injection in hospital may not be available for use at home in the UAE. At home, the treating physician may prescribe other forms, such as tablets, liquids or skin patches. Our aim is to relieve pain and maintain patient comfort in accordance with the prescribed medical plan. If pain cannot be adequately controlled at home, hospital assessment and treatment may be necessary.
Breathing: Oxygen therapy and airway care can be provided at home when clinically appropriate. However, increasing respiratory distress may require hospital assessment and treatment.
Nausea and other symptoms: These can often be managed at home under the direction of the treating medical team.

If a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order has been discussed and signed in hospital, families should know that it applies within the hospital. It does NOT carry over to care at home. This is one more reason to have a plan of care discussion in advance.

The First 48 Hours going home

The first two days at home are an “all hands on deck” time. Our nurses settle the patient, watch how they respond and keep the room calm. Behind the scenes, our supervisors make sure that medicines, equipment and contacts are all in place.

Above all, we reassure the family. Specialists at the first Emirates Geriatrics Society conference in October 2026 stressed the same point: in the UAE, strong family involvement is not something to avoid. Good communication with the family is at the heart of good end-of-life care.

When Home Is Not the Right Place

Over the years, we have supported families whose wishes changed once care at home began. One situation stays with us. A young family, with small children, wanted their family member to return home. The equipment was arranged, our nurses settled the patient in, and the family spent precious days together.

Then, as the patient’s breathing became more difficult, the level of nursing support increased to help manage symptoms and maintain comfort. Although the family had been informed that the patient’s condition could deteriorate, witnessing these changes unfold in their own home was overwhelming.

After much thought, the family decided that they were not emotionally prepared to continue caring for the patient at home as the condition deteriorated, particularly in the home where their young children would grow up. They requested that the patient return to hospital, with our nurses continuing to provide support there. It was an expensive decision, and not all families have the financial means to exercise this option.

Looking back, the family was not prepared to witness or cope with such rapid changes at home. Being told that something may happen is very different from witnessing it firsthand. It was not a failure of home care. It was a family choosing what was right for them. That is exactly why we talk openly with every family, from the very beginning, about the changes they may encounter at home and continue to assess their readiness as circumstances change.

Planning Ahead: When to Return to Hospital

Every family’s journey is different, but every plan should answer a few questions in advance:

What symptoms might we see at home, and how will they be managed?
What medical or nursing care cannot be safely provided at home and would require hospital care?
At what point would hospital care be more appropriate for the patient?
Who do we call, and how would a hospital transfer be arranged?
What are the patient’s and family’s wishes, including religious practices and spiritual care?

Agreeing on these points early allows families to focus on comfort, dignity and spending time together.

Our palliative care and hospice at home team supports families across Dubai. Our home nursing nurses are directly employed and trained to Canadian clinical standards.

FAQ: End of Life Home Care

What equipment is needed for end of life home care?

Often a medical bed, a comfortable pressure-relieving mattress and, if needed, oxygen. Your care team will advise on what your loved one needs. At Enayati, equipment is provided as part of our palliative care service, depending on availability.

Can pain be managed at home?

Often, yes, with medicines prescribed by the treating physician, particularly the Palliative Care Consultant in the hospital. However, some options used in hospital may not be available at home. If pain cannot be controlled, a return to hospital may be the kindest choice.

Does a hospital DNR order apply at home?

A DNR order signed in hospital applies within that hospital. It does not carry over to care at home. Discuss with the hospital team and your home care team what the plan should be.

What if we change our minds about care at home?

That is completely acceptable. Wishes can change as circumstances change. A good care team will respect and support your decision, including arranging a return to hospital and continuing nursing support there, if required.

End of life home care is a privilege for our team. We learn from every family we serve, and families often share their wishes, concerns and differing perspectives more openly as trust develops. We value the opportunity to support patients and families through these difficult decisions.

Important: This article shares general information and our team’s experience. It is not medical advice. Please discuss the patient’s care, symptoms and medications with their treating physician and palliative care team.

If you are considering bringing a family member home, please WhatsApp us on +971 55 352 0186 to speak to a nurse. We are here to listen.