PALLIATIVE care patients will soon able to receive around the clock community care at home with the establishment of a Hospice at Home service in Mount Gambier.
The 12-month project will provide people who are approaching end of life with the option of holistic, compassionate family-centred care in their own home through the use of trained volunteers.
Funded with a $149,100 State Government grant, the project aims to provide 24 hour, seven day a week care and support by the volunteers in collaboration with general practitioners, palliative care team members and allied support services.
Currently, Country Health Connect Palliative Care nurses provide support from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
Hospice at Home project committee spokesperson Maureen Klintberg said the need for hospice and an extension of the current palliative care options had been expressed for sometime in the community.
“Offering compassionate care and practical support that meets the needs of those who are approaching end of life as well as the needs of their family and friends, the planned hospice service aims to strengthen the ability of families to care for their loved ones at home,” she said.
“It will also potentially prevent unnecessary hospitalisations during the last 6 months of life.
“Hospice care is most often offered when a person is expected to live six months or less if the illness runs its natural course,” she said.
“The person centred care provided can bring together a team of people with special skills – among them nurses, doctors, counsellors, spiritual workers and trained volunteers to deliver care based on the holistic, individual needs and preferences of the dying person, respecting their preferences and dignity.”
Ms Klintberg said the Mount Gambier model would be based on the Warrnambool and District Community Hospice, which has been fully operational since 2016 and includes a team of 70 volunteers.
She said the Hospice at Home program would be free of charge and accessible to all community members who wish to remain in their surroundings, but may have been unable to do so due to lack of family or personal support.
“The care provided will be made possible by recruiting local volunteers who will undertake palliative care training that is guided by state Palliative Care services,” Ms Klintberg said.
“No specific skills are required to become a trained palliative care volunteer, just a desire to support and help those in need.
“Volunteers do not offer medical care or advice, instead they focus on providing practical assistance to the dying person, family and carer.”
Hospice at Home project committee chair Roslyn Taylor encouraged community members to consider becoming a volunteer or a board member.
“We are also seeking a premise within the city that will be used to provide space for management, training of volunteers and use by caregivers, families and identified partners supporting the provision of end of life care,” she said.
“If anyone knows of a suitable property we would be keen to hear from them.”
The service will initially focus on Mount Gambier and surrounding districts, but the project committee hope to expand the service across the Limestone Coast Local Health Network in the future.
Its viability will be dependent on community and government funding.
Contact mountgambierhospiceathome@ gmail.com or Maureen Klintberg on 0438 010 780 for more information or to register an interest in volunteering for the program.
