THIS week is Palliative Care week, and Busselton Hospice is using the week to encourage people to discuss end-of-life issues and prepare, should the need for care arise.
The theme of Palliative Care Week this year is ‘Palliative Care – everyone’s business’ which aims to raise awareness within the community of the importance of discussing end-of-life issues with family and loved ones so everyone can be prepared to provide you with the best care options according to your wishes, should the need arise.
The Busselton community has generously supported the operations and provision of palliative care at Busselton Hospice for over 12 years, some of the Hospice Care Committee members, namely Dr Trent Healy and Jenny Monson, have been involved since 1989.
The hospice team including nursing staff and over 100 volunteers provide support to over 70 people with a life-limiting illness each year, offering respite, symptom management, emotional support, end-of-life care and bereavement support for friends and family.
Staff from Busselton hospital also work as part of the team, providing meals, cleaning, laundry and nursing support.
The volunteers are the heart of the Hospice and work on a rostered basis devoting time and energy to ensure there is a peaceful place for people to come to when needed.
The hospice is supported by local GPs and also by Dr Carolyn Masarei, a palliative care specialist who runs a busy symptom assessment clinic at the hospice fortnightly.
Palliative support is also provided at home with the assistance of Silver Chain nursing staff if people choose to remain at home.
In Busselton the community all work together raising funds to ensure the continuity of this service and volunteering at the Hospice to ensure that palliative support is available when people from our community are in need.
The Hospice bereavement support program offers buddy support to people who have lost a loved one, regular afternoon tea groups and also ‘Cooking for One’ lessons for blokes, and an annual memorial service held in November to provide support to those who are bereaved within our community.
Grief counsellor Jenny Monson will be offering a free community workshop about the process of grief and loss for people who have lost a loved one from 1pm tomorrow at Kent Street Family Centre.
