When times are tough, Hospice Waikato is here to help
Few of us can imagine what it’s like to be told that you have terminal illness. It is likely to be one of the most challenging and emotional times a family can go through. Hospice is here to help.
How do families and patients process their feelings of fear, loneliness, anger, confusion, grief, and the many other chaotic emotions that may rush to be acknowledged during difficult times?
Each journey is unique to the patient and their family/whanau, and it is a journey that Hospice will share with that family when times get tough.
It takes a whole community to provide support for people living with a terminal illness - from Hospice volunteers, social workers, and counsellors to doctors and nurses, to people just like you who support Hospice. Together, we all work to help ensure that people living with a terminal illness in our community can live the best life possible.
Together we strive to help Hospice patients to make the most of every moment, in the place they call home and that is part of what makes Hospice care so special, and so unique.
Hospice care is primarily delivered in the patient’s own home. It is also a service that looks after the patient’s whole needs, including spiritual, social and physical needs, and also the needs of those closest to the patient – their family/whanau and carers.
"Something that makes hospice care really special is that we’re able to deliver care and support to patients and their families in their homes. It gives us a clearer picture of who they are and how best we can provide the care they need, while also lessening the strain on family,” says Emily, Hospice Waikato Nurse.
Everyone copes differently during an illness and then after losing a loved one, and Hospice is there, in whatever shape or form needed. “I don’t think many people are aware of how many services are offered as a part of Hospice. Not only for the patients receiving medical care but also for their family. It’s a full wraparound service,” says Andrea Jones, Education and Training Coordinator.
Hospice understands the emotions that surround a terminal diagnosis, and that there is no one model of care. Hospice care is adapted to each unique patient, to help them live as well as possible, for as long as possible. To be able to live the best life possible, in a way that is most important to the patient, knowing that their loved ones will also be supported, is what we strive to achieve for our patients and their family/whanau,” says Emily, Hospice nurse.
Hospice Waikato looks after around 1,500 patients and their family/whanau in a typical year. Hospice is only partially funded by the Government and each year Hospice Waikato needs to raise $5million to cover its funding shortfall. It is through the generosity of people like you that we are able to keep our service available, free of charge.
Since Covid-19, we have seen a decrease in our funding, due to the cancellations of events and general life uncertainty, which is why we need your help now more than ever.
Facts at a glance
• One in three people living in our community will need hospice care.
• Our community nurses made 7,471 visits to patients’ private homes in the past year for care.
• In the past year, we’ve provided 2,082 days of care in our Inpatient Unit for adult patients.
• Our counsellors and social workers gave 1,158 face-to-face counselling sessions to patients and their families last year.