Mercy Health Albury marks National Palliative Care Week

Mercy Health Albury is celebrating the tireless work of its palliative care staff and volunteers as part of National Palliative Care Week 21– 28 May.

The theme for 2017 is ‘You matter, your care matters. Palliative care can make a difference.’ The aim of the week for this year is to put the spotlight on palliative care in aged care.

There are currently more than 350,000 Australians cared for by aged care services, and many of these people will face the end of their lives in residential aged care homes. Palliative care providers like Mercy Health Albury want to help make this experience as comfortable and as positive as possible.

Mercy Health Albury Acting Nurse Unit Manager Claire Kemp said aged care residents are often living with complicated health concerns.

“Palliative care can help manage complex and chronic health conditions in collaboration with aged care residents’ family members, GPs and the staff at the home,” Ms Kemp said.

“Part of managing complex health concerns is advance care planning, which involves talking with families about what is important at the end of life, and how these values can be incorporated into end of life care.”

Mercy Health Albury has been providing a palliative care service since 1984 and currently has 56 employees and 60 active volunteers. The team provides a host of services aimed at providing a high quality life for patients diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and their families. These services include community nursing, an inpatient ward, grief and loss support, pastoral care and dedicated volunteers to provide friendship and non-clinical support.

“Our volunteers receive extensive training and play an important role in the care and support we provide to people within the hospital and the community,” Ms Kemp said.

“It takes a special kind of person to be a palliative care volunteer and we are always on the lookout for more.”

For more information about palliative care services in the Albury Wodonga region, call Mercy Health Albury on 6042 1400.

For more information about National Palliative Care Week, visit palliativecare.org.au/nationalpalliative-care-week/