Mr Diederik Lohman of Human Rights Watch writes to inform us about the new recommendations for Older Persons by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Ministers:

D. Palliative care

44. Member States should offer palliative care for older persons who suffer from a life-threatening or life-limiting illness to ensure their well-being and allow them to live and die with dignity.

45. Any older person who is in need of palliative care should be entitled to access it without undue delay, in a setting which is consistent with his or her needs and preferences, including at home and in long-term care settings.

46. Family members and friends should be encouraged to accompany older persons who are terminally ill or dying. They should receive professional support, for example by ambulatory palliative-care services.

47. Health-care providers involved in palliative care should fully respect patients’ rights, and comply with professional obligations and standards.

48. Trained specialists in the field of palliative care should be available to lead education and research in the field. Programmes of palliative-care education should be incorporated into the training of all health and social-care workers concerned and co-operation of professionals in palliative care should be encouraged.

49. Member States should ensure the adequate availability and accessibility of palliative-care medicines.

50. In the organisation of their national palliative-care systems, member States should take into account Recommendation Rec(2003)24 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the organisation of palliative care.