Choosing home: Planning to die at home in Victoria
For many people, the thought of dying at home feels gentle and reassuring. Home can offer familiarity, privacy, and the comfort of being surrounded by the people, sounds, and rhythms that make you feel most yourself. In Victoria, Australia, dying at home (an expected death) is legal — and with thoughtful planning and the right support, it can happen.
This blog explores what it can mean to choose home as your place of death, what is involved in end-of-life planning at home, and how a doula can walk alongside your medical team and loved ones to help your wishes be honoured.
Is it legal to die at home in Victoria?
Yes. For an expected death, there is no legal requirement to die in a hospital, hospice, or aged care facility. You can also plan to come home from hospital, hospice, or your aged care facility to die at home.
Planning is key. It will involve open conversations and coordination between your formal support team (doctors, nurses, palliative care, and allied health) and your informal support team (family, friends, and community). When everyone understands what matters to you and how to support you, home can become a place of comfort, dignity, and connection at the end of life.
It’s important to note that even with careful planning, sometimes dying at home may not be possible. A doula ensures alternative plans are ready and can be enacted smoothly, so your comfort and dignity are always maintained.
Planning to die at home
Key elements often include:
Engaging community-based palliative care for medical oversight, symptom management, equipment, and after-hours support.
Clarifying what matters most to you, including who you want involved and any cultural, spiritual, or personal preferences.
Advance care planning to document your values and appointing a Medical Treatment Decision Maker.
Practical preparation, including equipment, medications, and knowing who to contact if symptoms change.
Emotional and relational support for loved ones, helping them understand what to expect and how to help while caring for themselves.
Home death is about building a circle of care — you don’t do it alone.
How a doula supports dying at home
A doula works alongside your palliative care team and loved ones to create a calm, supported environment. We:
Explore and express your wishes — what “home” means, who you want nearby, and what brings comfort.
Support advance care planning conversations and ensure your choices are clearly reflected.
Bridge communication between you, your family, and your medical team.
Prepare your support network so loved ones know how to help and what to expect.
Provide non-medical support including companionship, practical help, and emotional presence.
We also ensure that alternative plans are ready if home isn’t possible, so you remain cared for with dignity.
Working together: formal and informal care
Formal team: medical care, symptom management, nursing, and equipment.
Informal team: love, familiarity, advocacy, and everyday presence.
A doula supports both, helping communication flow and keeping your wishes at the centre.
Choosing home is about choice
Not everyone will want to die at home, and that is valid. What matters is being informed and supported to make the choice that feels right for you.
Home is where you feel safest and most yourself — it deserves to be explored as a real possibility. With thoughtful planning, home-based palliative care, and a compassionate circle of support, it can be deeply meaningful.
If you are considering dying at home or would like gentle support to explore end-of-life care options for yourself or a loved one, you are welcome to contact Melanie at The Practical Doula.
Photo acknowledgement: Eduard Militaru