Eastern Palliative Care

Clients can be referred by treating doctors, local hospitals, treating specialists, allied health professionals, by self or by family members and friends. Eastern Palliative Care is a partnership that was formed in 1998 between the Order of Malta, Outer East Palliative Care Service Inc and Sisters of Charity (St Vincent's Hospital). It receives funding from the State Government. Currently its services are provided in Boroondara, Knox, Maroondah, Monash, Mornington, Whitehorse and Yarra Ranges, representing 19% of the State population.The Vision of the organisation is: Together in Service ~ Compassionate in Care ~ Leadership in Action and its Mission is to care for and accompany the dying person and their carers in the final phase of life, upholding their dignity and respecting their spiritual, physical, emotional and social needs. Its care continues in the bereavement services offered to families and carers. It has a staff of 120 augmented by 130 volunteers. In 2010-11 it had 1,265 new clients and during that time 88,000 client contacts were made. The average number of new clients per month is 523 with a length of stay of 130 days. 84% of the clients are cancer sufferers. Louise spoke of the directness of the service, particularly in the use of the word dying and by facing up to the real needs of the person concerned.

The services they provide to achieve this are: Nursing and medical care Counselling and welfare support Pastoral care, that is, spiritual support but not necessarily religious. Art and music therapy Massage therapy Biographical assistance All of these in some way provide comfort and purpose in the closing days of a person’s life, as well as dignity and the chance to die knowing they were loved. Their own caring staff and volunteers need respite from the high level of emotional strain and their involvement in the services they are providing. This is achieved by getting together as a group enjoying a day out, picnicking and/or barbecuing together. The carers and families are not forgotten, for, as well as the bereavement counselling, an annual Remembrance Day is held to enable them to remember the dead and take part in a celebration of their life.

She left us with the thought that we should all get to know how to discuss dying and what will happen, particularly in relation to our wishes after our death.